Pragya Santra, Amity University Kolkata
Depression is a mental disorder affecting millions of individuals worldwide out of which some are diagnosed and some remain unrecognized. There are varied reasons for depression to occur. It is really interesting to know that the bacteria in our intestine can affect our mood swings and even depression! A recent study focused on the fact that imbalance or damage in the gut microbiota can result in depressions by depleting certain essential metabolites. Experimental and genetic studies further found out the coordination with hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation, inflammation, circuit dysfunctions, reduced neuroplasticity and perturbation in neuromodulatory systems in response to stress growing factors in body.
Detailed observations and studies revealed that change in gut-microbiota resulted in chronic stress causing reduction and exhaustion of lipid metabolites in blood and brain. This further leads to depressive disorder like behaviors. A correlation between gut microbiota and the efficacy of a frequently used antidepressant, fluoxetine, was identified. Endocannabinoids, a lipid metabolite, coordinates the blood-brain and hormonal communication in the body which is significantly hindered by the reduction in metabolites. Even gut microbiota regulate mood and brain functioning, which gets disturbed. Endocannabinoids bind to the receptors, the main target of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the most active component of cannabis. It was detected that the absence of endocannabinoids in the hippocampus had a great impact in the key-brain region which is associated with memories and emotion making. The main function got diverted and resulted in mood-swings and depressive-like behaviors and thoughts. This further affects the hypothalamus, and eventually the pituitary gland, thus causing a hormonal disbalance, which can also greatly affect the psychology of an individual.
Experimental evidence highlighted the fact that simply by transferring the microbiota from an individual with mood-swings and depression to a healthy being, was enough to induce depressive-like behavior in the latter. Physiological studies and comparisons later revealed that certain biochemical and hormonal changes due to defective microbiota resulted in such transformations.
Even the concentration of the microbiota is of great concern to stabilize the psychological myopathy. Significant reduction in gut-microbiota causes insufficient breakdown of the metabolites which resulted in depressive-like outcomes. Restoring the required amount of the lost microbiota in the body can resolve the problem and the bacteria here acts as anti-depressants, but only in necessary concentration. Such treatments are known as psychobiotics.
Also, some lipids important for the brain functioning are notably exhausted in case of imbalance in the gut-bacterial community triggering the emergence of depressive-like behaviors. The use of specific bacteria could restore the healthy community again treating mood-disorders effectively. Thus, more detailed studies are still in progress to come up with more promising insights about the coordinations of the various systems of the body to understand the cause of stress, depressions and mood-swings and treat them accordingly.
Also read: Catalytic Triads Unlocked – Chemists Discover New Tool to Catalyse Enzymatic Reactions
Reference:
Effect of gut microbiota on depressive-like behaviors in mice is mediated by the endocannabinoid system; Chevalier, G., Siopi, E., Guenin-Macé, L. et al.; Nature Communications; 11 December 2020; Volume: 11; Article number: 6363Link: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-19931-2
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