Immunomodulation via gut-brain axis

Immunomodulation via gut-brain axis" is not a single molecule or receptor but rather describes a complex **bidirectional communication network** involving the **gut microbiota**, the **central nervous system**, the **enteric nervous system**, neuroendocrine pathways, and multiple components of the immune system[1][2][3]. This network regulates both local intestinal immunity and distant brain function through mechanisms such as microbial metabolite signaling (notably short-chain fatty acids), modulation of innate and adaptive immune responses, activation of pattern recognition receptors like TLR4 by bacterial products such as LPS, and neuroimmune interactions mediated by cells including microglia and astrocytes[1][2][3]. The gut-brain axis plays key roles in diseases ranging from neurodegeneration to psychiatric disorders to gastrointestinal inflammation. While it is a major focus for therapeutic intervention—using approaches like probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics, antibiotics, or fecal microbiota transplantation—it does not represent a discrete molecular target but rather an integrated physiological pathway[1][2]. Therefore "Immunomodulation via gut-brain axis" should not be considered a canonical drug target; instead it refers to an area encompassing many potential targets within its component systems.

Other names

Microbiota-gut-brain axisMGB axisGut-brain-immune axisMicrobiome-gut-brain communication

Modulation of immune signaling pathways (e.g., NF-kB, inflammasomes); Regulation of cytokine production and inflammatory mediators via microbial metabolites (such as short-chain fatty acids acting on G protein-coupled receptors)