A mechanism by which the gut and brain communicate has been identified: in the case of intestinal inflammation, a brain “gate” closes to keep toxic molecules out. Doing so, however, increases anxiety and depression
If the intestine is inflamed, a “gate” in the brain closes to protect our most important organ from toxic molecules that could arrive from the gastrointestinal tract. When this happens, however, the memory jams and above all anxiety and depression increase: this was discovered by a group of researchers from Humanitas University, identifying for the first time a new mechanism in the dialogue between the intestine and the brain.
Research, just published in Science magazine, explains why many patients with chronic intestinal diseases such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease often also suffer from depression and anxiety: “These conditions are part of the disease and not secondary manifestations”, explains Maria Rescigno, head of the Mucosal Immunology Laboratory and microbiota of Humanitas and professor of General Pathology of Humanitas University. “In fact, we have documented for the first time that the chorioid plexus (a vascular membrane that normally filters the cerebrospinal fluid and lets nutrients and cells of the immune system enter the brain, ed) can open and close as if it were a gate: when there is a strong inflammation in the intestine, to prevent this from spreading to the brain, the “gate” closes, but in doing so leads to the development of anxiety and depression “.
Gut-brain communication
The data is proof that the intestine and the brain “talk to each other”, but above all that this dialogue is really fundamental for the well-being of the mind because, when something is wrong in the belly, the brain suffers: a dynamic and physiological communication between the intestine and the brain. , therefore, it is important for good brain activity. The discovery opens the way for new research, as Rescigno explains: «We have described the mechanism that regulates the interaction between the brain and the rest of the organism in relation to intestinal inflammation. However, there are still many open questions: for example, in which other diseases is this closure activated? Patients with neurodegenerative diseases also have a leaky gut, from which more molecules pass into the bloodstream, and we now know that this migration is related to a closure of the brain barrier and therefore to depression and anxiety: how can we reopen ‘the gate’ of the plexus to combat these altered states? And again, how can we modulate the barrier to reach the brain and allow the passage of drugs? ». Finding an answer to these questions will therefore mean getting closer to new therapies, for inflammatory bowel diseases and more.
October 22, 2021 (change October 22, 2021 | 08:17)
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