The role of gut microbiota metabolites in the regeneration and protection of nervous tissue: a narrative review

Kostiuchenko, Olha1,2; Lushnikova, Iryna1; Skibo, Galyna1

1Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine

2Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland

*Correspondence to: Olha Kostiuchenko, kostiuchenko.olha@biph.kiev.ua or okostiuchenko@ibb.waw.pl.

Funding: This work was supported by a grant from the National Research Foundation of Ukraine # 2023.05/0023 (to GS) and the National Science Centre (NCN, Poland), under grant number 2021/41/B/NZ9/02236.

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Regenerative Medicine Reports 1(1):p 12-30, September 2024. | DOI: 10.4103/REGENMED.REGENMED-D-24-00004

Abstract

The gut microbiota modulates various physiological functions in the human body, including digestion, immune regulation, gut barrier maintenance, and even nervous system activity. The bidirectional communication between gut microbes and the brain, known as the microbiota–gut–brain axis, is crucial for balanced metabolism. Recent studies have indicated that gut microbiota metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids, indole derivatives, neurotransmitters, and other bioactive compounds, can positively impact neurogenesis, myelination, and axonal regeneration, suggesting their potential in therapeutic strategies for neuroprotection and neuroregeneration. Despite the growing number of studies on gut microbiota metabolites, understanding their role in neuroprotective mechanisms remains limited. This article reviews the classification, production, functions and therapeutic potential of the most well-known gut microbiota metabolites, as well as their impact on neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, energy metabolism, immune modulation, and blood–brain barrier integrity, which will provide a foundation for the study of gut microbiota metabolites in the field of biomedical engineering.

肠道微生物群代谢物在神经组织再生和保护中的作用：叙述性综述

摘要

肠道微生物群参与调节人体的各种生理功能，包括消化、免疫调节、肠道屏障维护，甚至神经系统活动。肠道微生物与大脑之间的双向交流，即微生物群-肠道-大脑轴，对平衡新陈代谢至关重要。最近的研究表明，肠道微生物群代谢产物，如短链脂肪酸、吲哚衍生物、神经递质和其他生物活性化合物，可对神经发生、髓鞘化和轴突再生产生积极影响，这表明它们在神经再生和保护的治疗策略中具有潜力。尽管有关肠道微生物群代谢物的研究越来越多，但人们对它们在神经再生和保护机制中作用的了解仍然有限。文章总结了肠道微生物群代谢物的分类、产生、功能和促进神经再生修复方面的潜力，以及它们对神经发生、突触生成、能量代谢、免疫调节和血脑屏障完整性的影响，这将为肠道微生物群代谢物在生物医学工程学领域的研究奠定基础。