Targeting the gut–brain axis: novel strategies for disease intervention from mechanisms to clinical practice
4 affiliations
- 1Huzhou Central Hospital, Fifth School of Clinical Medicine of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University
- 2Huzhou Central Hospital, Affiliated Central Hospital Huzhou University
- 3Zhejiang-France United Laboratory of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Modern Medicine in Colorectal Cancer
- 4School of Medicine, Tarim University
Abstract
The gut–brain axis is a bidirectional communication network linking the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system (CNS), in which the gut microbiota and its metabolites have emerged as important modulators. Alterations in the gut microbiota have been reported in a range of neurological, psychiatric, and metabolic disorders, but their underlying mechanisms and causal relevance in humans are still unclear. This review examines the major neural, endocrine, immune, and metabolic pathways involved in microbiota–gut–brain communication and discusses how their disruption may affect neurotransmitter signaling, inflammation, barrier function, and host metabolism. We also review current intervention strategies, including microbiota modulation, dietary and metabolic approaches, neural and immunomodulatory interventions, and behavioral and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) approaches. Particular attention is given to the strength of the available evidence, its clinical relevance, and the limitations and safety considerations that need to be addressed before gut–brain-axis-based strategies can be more widely applied.
Related
- Gut microbiota-immune-bone axis in osteoporosis: mechanisms and intervention strategies
- Transcription factor targeting strategies in cancer: mechanisms, challenges and cutting-edge progress
- Overcoming the nuclear barrier in nonviral gene therapy: mechanisms, carrier design, and translational perspectives on NLS peptide and DNA targeting sequence strategies.
- Targeting circular RNAs to overcome therapeutic resistance in liver cancer: from mechanisms to clinical prospects
- Emerging Therapeutic Strategies for Targeting Hyaluronan in Metabolic Disease from Molecular Design to Clinical Translation
BibTeX
@article{lele2026targeting,
title = {{Targeting the gut–brain axis: novel strategies for disease intervention from mechanisms to clinical practice}},
author = {Fan Lele and Guo Yuying and Liu Jin and Han Shuwen and Zhuang Jing},
journal = {Frontiers in Microbiology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2026.1923456},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2026.1923456/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Targeting the gut–brain axis: novel strategies for disease intervention from mechanisms to clinical practice
AU - Fan Lele
AU - Guo Yuying
AU - Liu Jin
AU - Han Shuwen
AU - Zhuang Jing
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/07
JO - Frontiers in Microbiology
DO - 10.3389/fmicb.2026.1923456
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2026.1923456/full
AB - The gut–brain axis is a bidirectional communication network linking the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system (CNS), in which the gut microbiota and its metabolites have emerged as important modulators. Alterations in the gut microbiota have been reported in a range of neurological, psychiatric, and metabolic disorders, but their underlying mechanisms and causal relevance in humans are still unclear. This review examines the major neural, endocrine, immune, and metabolic pathways involved in microbiota–gut–brain communication and discusses how their disruption may affect neurotransmitter signaling, inflammation, barrier function, and host metabolism. We also review current intervention strategies, including microbiota modulation, dietary and metabolic approaches, neural and immunomodulatory interventions, and behavioral and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) approaches. Particular attention is given to the strength of the available evidence, its clinical relevance, and the limitations and safety considerations that need to be addressed before gut–brain-axis-based strategies can be more widely applied.
SN - 1664-302X
ER -