There has been an explosion of interest in the study of microorganisms inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract (gut microbiota) and their impact on host health and physiology. Accumulating data suggest that altered communication between gut microbiota and host systems could participate in disorders such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, and autoimmune disorders as well as neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism, anxiety, and major depressive disorders. The conceptual development of the microbiome-gut-brain axis has facilitated understanding of the complex and bidirectional networks between gastrointestinal microbiota and their host, highlighting potential mechanisms through which this environment influences central nervous system physiology. Communication pathways between gut microbiota and the central nervous system could include autonomic, neuroendocrine, enteric, and immune systems, with pathology resulting in disruption to neurotransmitter balance, increases in chronic inflammation, or exacerbated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity. However, uncertainty remains regarding the generalizability of controlled animal studies to the more multifaceted pattern of human pathophysiology, especially with regard to the therapeutic potential for neuropsychiatric health. This narrative review summarizes current understanding of gut microbial influence over physiological function, with an emphasis on neurobehavioral and neurological impairment based on growing understanding of the gut-brain axis. Experimental and clinical data regarding means of therapeutic manipulation of gut microbiota as a novel treatment option for mental health are described, and important knowledge gaps are identified and discussed.

中文翻译：

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利用肠道微生物促进心理健康：从这里到那里

人们对胃肠道微生物（肠道微生物群）及其对宿主健康和生理的影响的研究产生了浓厚的兴趣。越来越多的数据表明，肠道微生物群和宿主系统之间沟通的改变可能与肥胖、糖尿病和自身免疫性疾病以及神经精神疾病（包括自闭症、焦虑症和重度抑郁症）有关。微生物组-肠-脑轴的概念发展促进了对胃肠道微生物群与其宿主之间复杂的双向网络的理解，突出了该环境影响中枢神经系统生理学的潜在机制。肠道微生物群和中枢神经系统之间的通讯途径可能包括自主神经、神经内分泌、肠道和免疫系统，其病理学会导致神经递质平衡破坏、慢性炎症增加或下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺轴活动加剧。然而，关于对照动物研究对人类病理生理学的多方面模式的普遍性仍然存在不确定性，特别是在神经精神健康的治疗潜力方面。这篇叙述性综述总结了目前对肠道微生物对生理功能影响的理解，重点是基于对肠-脑轴的不断了解的神经行为和神经损伤。描述了关于肠道微生物群的治疗操纵方法作为心理健康的一种新的治疗选择的实验和临床数据，并确定和讨论了重要的知识差距。