Use of <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> to Unravel the Tripartite Interaction of Kynurenine Pathway, UPR^mt and Microbiome in Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract

The model organism Caenorhabditis elegans and its relationship with the gut microbiome are gaining traction, especially for the study of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Gut microbes are known to be able to alter kynurenine metabolites in the host, directly influencing innate immunity in C. elegans. While the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) was first characterized in C. elegans in 2007, its relevance in host–microbiome interactions has only become apparent in recent years. In this review, we provide novel insights into the current understanding of the microbiome–gut–brain axis with a focus on tripartite interactions between the UPRmt, kynurenine pathway, and microbiome in C. elegans, and explore their relationships for PD remediations.

Keywords

• <i>C. elegans</i>
• microbiome
• UPR^mt
• kynurenine
• Parkinson’s disease