Effects of Two Distinct Psychoactive Microbes, <i>Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus</i> JB-1 and <i>Limosilactobacillus reuteri</i> 6475, on Circulating and Hippocampal mRNA in Male Mice

Discovery of the microbiota-gut–brain axis has led to proposed microbe-based therapeutic strategies in mental health, including the use of mood-altering bacterial species, termed psychobiotics. However, we still have limited understanding of the key signaling pathways engaged by specific organisms i...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sandor Haas-Neill, Eiko Iwashita, Anna Dvorkin-Gheva, Paul Forsythe
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-08-01
Series:International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/17/9653
Description
Summary:Discovery of the microbiota-gut–brain axis has led to proposed microbe-based therapeutic strategies in mental health, including the use of mood-altering bacterial species, termed psychobiotics. However, we still have limited understanding of the key signaling pathways engaged by specific organisms in modulating brain function, and evidence suggests that bacteria with broadly similar neuroactive and immunomodulatory actions can drive different behavioral outcomes. We sought to identify pathways distinguishing two psychoactive bacterial strains that seemingly engage similar gut–brain signaling pathways but have distinct effects on behaviour. We used RNAseq to identify mRNAs differentially expressed in the blood and hippocampus of mice following <i>Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus</i> JB-1, and <i>Limosilactobacillus reuteri</i> 6475 treatment and performed Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) to identify enrichment in pathway activity. <i>L. rhamnosus</i>, but not <i>L. reuteri</i> treatment altered several pathways in the blood and hippocampus, and the <i>rhamnosus</i> could be clearly distinguished based on mRNA profile. In particular, <i>L. rhamnosus</i> treatment modulated the activity of interferon signaling, JAK/STAT, and TNF-alpha via NF-KB pathways. Our results highlight that psychobiotics can induce complex changes in host gene expression, andin understanding these changes, we may help fine-tune selection of psychobiotics for treating mood disorders.
ISSN:1661-6596
1422-0067