Impact of Gut Microbiota on the Peripheral Nervous System in Physiological, Regenerative and Pathological Conditions

It has been widely demonstrated that the gut microbiota is responsible for essential functions in human health and that its perturbation is implicated in the development and progression of a growing list of diseases. The number of studies evaluating how the gut microbiota interacts with and influences other organs and systems in the body and vice versa is constantly increasing and several 'gut-organ axes' have already been defined. Recently, the view on the link between the gut microbiota (GM) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS) has become broader by exceeding the fact that the PNS can serve as a systemic carrier of GM-derived metabolites and products to other organs. The PNS as the communication network between the central nervous system and the periphery of the body and internal organs can rather be affected itself by GM perturbation. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge about the impact of gut microbiota on the PNS, with regard to its somatic and autonomic divisions, in physiological, regenerative and pathological conditions.

Automated summary

It is widely recognized that the gut microbiota plays a crucial role in human health, and its disruption is associated with various diseases. Recent studies have expanded our understanding of the relationship between the gut microbiota and the peripheral nervous system (PNS), highlighting that the PNS can be affected by GM perturbations. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the current knowledge on the impact of the gut microbiota on the PNS, considering both its somatic and autonomic divisions in physiological, regenerative, and pathological conditions.