Effects of psychological stress on inflammatory bowel disease via affecting the microbiota-gut-brain axis.
10.1097/CM9.0000000000003389
- Author:
Yuhan CHEN
1
;
Xiaofen CHEN
1
;
Suqin LIN
2
;
Shengjun HUANG
3
;
Lijuan LI
3
;
Mingzhi HONG
3
;
Jianzhou LI
4
;
Lili MA
5
;
Juan MA
3
Author Information
1. Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong 515041, China.
2. Medical College, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China.
3. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China.
4. Department of Diagnosis and Treatment Center of High Altitude Digestive Disease, The Second People's Hospital of Xining, Xining, Qinghai 810003, China.
5. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Qinghai Provincial People's Hospital, Xining, Qinghai 810007, China.
- Publication Type:Review
- MeSH:
Humans;
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/metabolism*;
Stress, Psychological/microbiology*;
Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology*;
Brain/metabolism*;
Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System;
Pituitary-Adrenal System;
Animals
- From:
Chinese Medical Journal
2025;138(6):664-677
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an idiopathic intestinal inflammatory condition with chronic and relapsing manifestations and is characterized by a disturbance in the interplay between the intestinal microbiota, the gut, and the brain. The microbiota-gut-brain axis involves interactions among the nervous system, the neuroendocrine system, the gut microbiota, and the host immune system. Increasing published data indicate that psychological stress exacerbates the severity of IBD due to its negative effects on the microbiota-gut-brain axis, including alterations in the stress response of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the balance between the sympathetic nervous system and vagus nerves, the homeostasis of the intestinal flora and metabolites, and normal intestinal immunity and permeability. Although the current evidence is insufficient, psychotropic agents, psychotherapies, and interventions targeting the microbiota-gut-brain axis show the potential to improve symptoms and quality of life in IBD patients. Therefore, further studies that translate recent findings into therapeutic approaches that improve both physical and psychological well-being are needed.
