The gut microbiota influences blood-brain barrier permeability in mice
Author
Braniste, Viorica
Al-Asmakh, Maha
Kowal, Czeslawa
Anuar, Farhana
Abbaspour, Afrouz
Tóth, Miklós
Korecka, Agata
Bakocevic, Nadja
Ng, Lai Guan
Kundu, Parag
Gulyás, Balázs
Halldin, Christer
Hultenby, Kjell
Nilsson, Harriet
Hebert, Hans
Volpe, Bruce T.
Diamond, Betty
Pettersson, Sven
Date of Issue
2014School
Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine)
Related Organization
Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering
Abstract
Pivotal to brain development and function is an intact blood-brain barrier (BBB), which acts as a gatekeeper to control the passage and exchange of molecules and nutrients between the circulatory system and the brain parenchyma. The BBB also ensures homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS). We report that germ-free mice, beginning with intrauterine life, displayed increased BBB permeability compared to pathogen-free mice with a normal gut flora. The increased BBB permeability was maintained in germ-free mice after birth and during adulthood and was associated with reduced expression of the tight junction proteins occludin and claudin-5, which are known to regulate barrier function in endothelial tissues. Exposure of germ-free adult mice to a pathogen-free gut microbiota decreased BBB permeability and up-regulated the expression of tight junction proteins. Our results suggest that gut microbiota–BBB communication is initiated during gestation and propagated throughout life.
Subject
Blood brain barrier
Microbiota
Microbiota
Type
Journal Article
Series/Journal Title
Science Translational Medicine
Rights
© 2014 American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Collections
http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.3009759
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