Microbiota-Gut-Brain Communication in the SARS-CoV-2 Infection

The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In addition to pneumonia, individuals affected by the disease have neurological symptoms. Indeed, SARS-CoV-2 has a neuroinvasive capacity. It is known that the infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 leads to a cytokine storm. An exacerbated inflammatory state can lead to the blood–brain barrier (BBB) damage as well as to intestinal dysbiosis. These changes, in turn, are associated with microglial activation and reactivity of astrocytes that can promote the degeneration of neurons and be associated with the development of psychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. Studies also have been shown that SARS-CoV-2 alters the composition and functional activity of the gut microbiota. The microbiota-gut-brain axis provides a bidirectional homeostatic communication pathway. Thus, this review focuses on studies that show the relationship between inflammation and the gut microbiota–brain axis in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

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Drug-Induced Liver Disturbance During the Treatment of COVID-19

Frontiers in Pharmacology ◽

10.3389/fphar.2021.719308 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Guanghua Zhai ◽

Meifen Li ◽

Ying Wang ◽

Jian Wu

Keyword(s):

Infectious Disease ◽

Clinical Practice ◽

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽

Liver Damage ◽

Hepatic Function ◽

World Health ◽

Drug Induced ◽

The World ◽

Health Organization ◽

The Relationship

An outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) occurred in Wuhan, China, at the end of 2019. The World Health Organization named the resulting infectious disease as coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Many studies concluded that patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 have different degrees of liver disturbance. However, the relationship between the drugs used for COVID-19 treatment and liver disturbance remains controversial. It is essential to evaluate the potential liver damage caused by various drugs in order to help guide clinical practice. This review analyzed the effect of drugs on hepatic function during the treatment of COVID-19.

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The Gut Microbiota in Celiac Disease and probiotics

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu11102375 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. 2375 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Chibbar ◽

Dieleman

Keyword(s):

Celiac Disease ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Gut Microbiome ◽

Healthy Subjects ◽

Intestinal Inflammation ◽

Bacterial Populations ◽

Intestinal Dysbiosis ◽

Immune Mediated ◽

Inflammatory State ◽

Anti Inflammatory

Celiac disease (CeD) is an immune-mediated enteropathy, and unique in that the specific trigger is known: gluten. The current mainstay of therapy is a gluten-free diet (GFD). As novel therapies are being developed, complementary strategies are also being studied, such as modulation of the gut microbiome. The gut microbiota is involved in the initiation and perpetuation of intestinal inflammation in several chronic diseases. Intestinal dysbiosis has been reported in CeD patients, untreated or treated with GFD, compared to healthy subjects. Several studies have identified differential bacterial populations associated with CeD patients and healthy subjects. However, it is still not clear if intestinal dysbiosis is the cause or effect of CeD. Probiotics have also been considered as a strategy to modulate the gut microbiome to an anti-inflammatory state. However, there is a paucity of data to support their use in treating CeD. Further studies are needed with therapeutic microbial formulations combined with human trials on the use of probiotics to treat CeD by restoring the gut microbiome to an anti-inflammatory state.

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Dysbiosis and obesity: implications of the gut microbiota

International Journal of Nutrology ◽

10.54448/ijn2135 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Alexandre Carli Pinto ◽

Danilo Everton Cunha Cavalcante ◽

Etianne Andrade Araújo ◽

Francione Moreira Cabral ◽

Jhonatas Mota Santos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Modern Medicine ◽

Mucosal Permeability ◽

Health Crisis ◽

Public Health Crisis ◽

The Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Intestinal Dysbiosis ◽

Fundamental Relationship ◽

The Relationship ◽

Present Systematic Review

Introduction: Obesity has been considered a public health crisis, contributing as a risk factor for several important chronic diseases and even death. Considering this fact, it is noteworthy that there is a fundamental relationship between the intestine and health, and this organ is considered by modern medicine as our second brain in the concept of intestinal permeability. Within the evaluation of the food process, effective nutritional absorption can be altered due to imbalances, such as malabsorption, drug-nutrient interaction, changes in mucosal permeability, and, consequently, an imbalance in the gut microbiota. Dysbiosis is characterized by these negative changes that occur in the intestine. In this sense, the present systematic review study sought to answer: What influences can the microbiota composition have on the metabolic syndrome and obesity process? Objective: To elucidate the relationship between the presence of intestinal dysbiosis in the pathogenesis of obesity. Methods: This is a bibliographic review work where the MEDLINE, PubMed, and SciELO databases were consulted using the following descriptors: Human gut microbiota, obesity, dysbiosis. Results and Conclusion: Based on the literature that supports this theme, it was possible to observe that in the obese population there is an increase in bacteria of the genus Firmicutes and a decrease in the genus Bacteriodetes, with the blocking of factors and proteins that regulate the homeostasis of the absorption of lipids and fatty acids being observed thus being able to alter the energy metabolism leading to a greater accumulation of adipose tissue.

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When Does the Cytokine Storm Begin in COVID-19 Patients? A Quick Score to Recognize It

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10020297 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 297

Author(s):

Stefano Cappanera ◽

Michele Palumbo ◽

Sherman H. Kwan ◽

Giulia Priante ◽

Lucia Assunta Martella ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Infectious Disease ◽

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽

Prospective Study ◽

Cytokine Storm ◽

Cytokine Antagonists ◽

Infectious Disease Department ◽

The World ◽

Risk Of Progression ◽

Definition Of ◽

A Prospective Study

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the virus that is responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which has rapidly spread across the world, becoming a pandemic. The “cytokine storm” (CS) in COVID-19 leads to the worst stage of illness, and its timely control through immunomodulators, corticosteroids, and cytokine antagonists may be the key to reducing mortality. After reviewing published studies, we proposed a Cytokine Storm Score (CSs) to identify patients who were in this hyperinflammation state, and at risk of progression and poorer outcomes. We retrospectively analyzed 31 patients admitted to Infectious Disease Department in “St. Maria” Hospital in Terni with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections, and analyzed the “CS score” (CSs) and the severity of COVID-19. Then we conducted a prospective study of COVID-19 patients admitted after the definition of the CSscore. This is the first study that proposes and applies a new score to quickly identify COVID-19 patients who are in a hyperinflammation stage, to rapidly treat them in order to reduce the risk of intubation. CSs can accurately identify COVID-19 patients in the early stages of a CS, to conduct timely, safe, and effect administration of immunomodulators, corticosteroids, and cytokine antagonists, to prevent progression and reduce mortality.

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The Food-gut Human Axis: The Effects of Diet on Gut Microbiota and Metabolome

Current Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/0929867324666170428103848 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 26 (19) ◽

pp. 3567-3583 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Maria De Angelis ◽

Gabriella Garruti ◽

Fabio Minervini ◽

Leonilde Bonfrate ◽

Piero Portincasa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Human Health ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽

Human Organism ◽

Immune Functions ◽

Intestinal Microbes ◽

Dietary Components ◽

Dietary Treatments ◽

The Relationship

Gut microbiota, the largest symbiont community hosted in human organism, is emerging as a pivotal player in the relationship between dietary habits and health. Oral and, especially, intestinal microbes metabolize dietary components, affecting human health by producing harmful or beneficial metabolites, which are involved in the incidence and progression of several intestinal related and non-related diseases. Habitual diet (Western, Agrarian and Mediterranean omnivore diets, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diets) drives the composition of the gut microbiota and metabolome. Within the dietary components, polymers (mainly fibers, proteins, fat and polyphenols) that are not hydrolyzed by human enzymes seem to be the main leads of the metabolic pathways of gut microbiota, which in turn directly influence the human metabolome. Specific relationships between diet and microbes, microbes and metabolites, microbes and immune functions and microbes and/or their metabolites and some human diseases are being established. Dietary treatments with fibers are the most effective to benefit the metabolome profile, by improving the synthesis of short chain fatty acids and decreasing the level of molecules, such as p-cresyl sulfate, indoxyl sulfate and trimethylamine N-oxide, involved in disease state. Based on the axis diet-microbiota-health, this review aims at describing the most recent knowledge oriented towards a profitable use of diet to provide benefits to human health, both directly and indirectly, through the activity of gut microbiota.

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Evidences of Brain Plasticity and Motor Control Modulation after Hemodialysis Session by Helixone Membrane: BOLD-fMRI Study

CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets ◽

10.2174/1871527319666200902133343 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 19 (6) ◽

pp. 466-477

Author(s):

Saïd Boujraf ◽

Rachida Belaïch ◽

Abdelkhalek Housni ◽

Badreeddine Alami ◽

Tariq Skalli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Functional Activity ◽

Brain Plasticity ◽

Biological Assessment ◽

Bold Fmri ◽

Before And After ◽

Total Antioxidant ◽

Inflammatory State ◽

Functional Control ◽

The Impact

Objective: The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the impact of hemodialysis (HD) using synthetic Helixone membrane on brain functional control reorganization and plasticity in the cortical area generated while Oxidative Stress (OS) would be the main impacting agent. Methods: Indeed, 9 chronic HD patients underwent identical brain BOLD-fMRI assessment using the motor paradigm immediately before and after the same HD sessions. To assess the oxidative stress, the same patients underwent biological-assessment, including Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Total- Antioxidant-Activity (TAOA) reported in earlier papers. Results: BOLD-fMRI maps of motor areas obtained from HD-patients before and after HD sessions revealed a significant enhancement of activation volume of the studied motor cortex after HD reflecting brain plasticity. Results were correlated with OS assessed by the measurement of MDA and TAOA; this correlation was close to 1. Conclusion: Indeed, HD enhances the inflammatory state of brain tissues reflected by the increased OS. The functional brain reaction demonstrated a functional activity reorganization to overcome the inflammatory state and OS enhanced by HD process. This functional activity reorganization reveals brain plasticity induced by OS originated by HD.

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Detection of Dysbiosis and Increased Intestinal Permeability in Brazilian Patients with Relapsing–Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18094621 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (9) ◽

pp. 4621

Author(s):

Felipe Papa Pellizoni ◽

Aline Zazeri Leite ◽

Nathália de Campos Rodrigues ◽

Marcelo Jordão Ubaiz ◽

Marina Ignácio Gonzaga ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Intestinal Permeability ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Dietary Interventions ◽

Chi Square ◽

16S Sequencing ◽

Intestinal Dysbiosis ◽

Relapsing Remitting ◽

Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Dysbiosis, associated with barrier disruption and altered gut–brain communications, has been associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). In this study, we evaluated the gut microbiota in relapsing–remitting patients (RRMS) receiving disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) and correlated these data with diet, cytokines levels, and zonulin concentrations. Stool samples were used for 16S sequencing and real-time PCR. Serum was used for cytokine determination by flow cytometry, and zonulin quantification by ELISA. Pearson’s chi-square, Mann–Whitney, and Spearman’s correlation were used for statistical analyses. We detected differences in dietary habits, as well as in the gut microbiota in RRMS patients, with predominance of Akkermansia muciniphila and Bacteroides vulgatus and decreased Bifidobacterium. Interleukin-6 concentrations were decreased in treated patients, and we detected an increased intestinal permeability in RRMS patients when compared with controls. We conclude that diet plays an important role in the composition of the gut microbiota, and intestinal dysbiosis, detected in RRMS patients could be involved in increased intestinal permeability and affect the clinical response to DTMs. The future goal is to predict therapeutic responses based on individual microbiome analyses (personalized medicine) and propose dietary interventions and the use of probiotics or other microbiota modulators as adjuvant therapy to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of DMTs.

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A New Paradigm in the Relationship between Melatonin and Breast Cancer: Gut Microbiota Identified as a Potential Regulatory Agent

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13133141 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (13) ◽

pp. 3141

Author(s):

Aurora Laborda-Illanes ◽

Lidia Sánchez-Alcoholado ◽

Soukaina Boutriq ◽

Isaac Plaza-Andrades ◽

Jesús Peralta-Linero ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Bacterial Population ◽

Kynurenine Pathway ◽

New Paradigm ◽

Bacterial Composition ◽

Glucuronidase Activity ◽

The One ◽

The Relationship ◽

Melatonin Production

In this review we summarize a possible connection between gut microbiota, melatonin production, and breast cancer. An imbalance in gut bacterial population composition (dysbiosis), or changes in the production of melatonin (circadian disruption) alters estrogen levels. On the one hand, this may be due to the bacterial composition of estrobolome, since bacteria with β-glucuronidase activity favour estrogens in a deconjugated state, which may ultimately lead to pathologies, including breast cancer. On the other hand, it has been shown that these changes in intestinal microbiota stimulate the kynurenine pathway, moving tryptophan away from the melatonergic pathway, thereby reducing circulating melatonin levels. Due to the fact that melatonin has antiestrogenic properties, it affects active and inactive estrogen levels. These changes increase the risk of developing breast cancer. Additionally, melatonin stimulates the differentiation of preadipocytes into adipocytes, which have low estrogen levels due to the fact that adipocytes do not express aromatase. Consequently, melatonin also reduces the risk of breast cancer. However, more studies are needed to determine the relationship between microbiota, melatonin, and breast cancer, in addition to clinical trials to confirm the sensitizing effects of melatonin to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and its ability to ameliorate or prevent the side effects of these therapies.

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Association of Urinary and Plasma Levels of Trimethylamine N-Oxide (TMAO) with Foods

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13051426 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 1426

Author(s):

Mauro Lombardo ◽

Giovanni Aulisa ◽

Daniele Marcon ◽

Gianluca Rizzo ◽

Maria Grazia Tarsisano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Fish Consumption ◽

Plasma Levels ◽

Cooking Methods ◽

Saltwater Fish ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Mediator Role ◽

Fish And Shellfish ◽

The Relationship

Introduction: Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) may play a key mediator role in the relationship between the diet, gut microbiota and cardiovascular diseases, particularly in people with kidney failure. The aim of this review is to evaluate which foods have a greater influence on blood or urinary trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) levels. Methods: 391 language articles were screened, and 27 were analysed and summarized for this review, using the keywords “TMAO” AND “egg” OR “meat” OR “fish” OR “dairy” OR “vegetables” OR “fruit” OR “food” in December 2020. Results: A strong correlation between TMAO and fish consumption, mainly saltwater fish and shellfish, but not freshwater fish, has been demonstrated. Associations of the consumption of eggs, dairy and meat with TMAO are less clear and may depend on other factors such as microbiota or cooking methods. Plant-based foods do not seem to influence TMAO but have been less investigated. Discussion: Consumption of saltwater fish, dark meat fish and shellfish seems to be associated with an increase in urine or plasma TMAO values. Further studies are needed to understand the relationship between increased risk of cardiovascular disease and plasma levels of TMAO due to fish consumption. Interventions coupled with long-term dietary patterns targeting the gut microbiota seem promising.

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The relationship between gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids and type 2 diabetes mellitus: the possible role of dietary fibre

Acta Diabetologica ◽

10.1007/s00592-021-01727-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Dominic Salamone ◽

Angela Albarosa Rivellese ◽

Claudia Vetrani

Keyword(s):

Type 2 Diabetes ◽

Fatty Acids ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Dietary Fibre ◽

Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽

Short Chain ◽

Microbiota Composition ◽

The Relationship ◽

Chain Fatty Acids

AbstractGut microbiota and its metabolites have been shown to influence multiple physiological mechanisms related to human health. Among microbial metabolites, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) are modulators of different metabolic pathways. On the other hand, several studies suggested that diet might influence gut microbiota composition and activity thus modulating the risk of metabolic disease, i.e. obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Among dietary component, dietary fibre may play a pivotal role by virtue of its prebiotic effect on fibre-fermenting bacteria, that may increase SCFA production. The aim of this review was to summarize and discuss current knowledge on the impact of dietary fibre as modulator of the relationship between glucose metabolism and microbiota composition in humans. More specifically, we analysed evidence from observational studies and randomized nutritional intervention investigating the relationship between gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids and glucose metabolism. The possible mechanisms behind this association were also discussed.

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