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DOI: 10.4103/ijmbs.ijmbs_68_18
Modulation of Parkinson's disease by the gut microbiota
The gut microbiota consists of thousands of microbial species sharing a symbiotic relationship with the human host. These microorganisms have a well-defined role in maintaining optimal function through various avenues including metabolism and immunomodulation. A literature search was accomplished using Google Scholar, MEDLINE, PubMed, and relevant articles were nonsystematically reviewed. In states of dysregulation termed dysbiosis, the gut microbiota may play a role and can lead to various pathologies. Interestingly, pathological states are not entirely limited to the gut and have the potential to affect other systems. Notably, dysbiosis has been linked to several neurological pathologies, including Parkinson's disease (PD). Hallmarks of Parkinson's include buildup of Lewy bodies mediated by α-synucleinopathies, aggregation of misfolded proteins, and mitochondrial dysfunction, resulting in various motor and gastrointestinal dysfunctions. The gut microbiota is implicated in contributing to this pathology through communication via the gut–brain axis. While there have been preliminary findings indicating the potential for a causal role of the gut microbiota in PD, further research is required before making solid conclusions.
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Publication History
Article published online:
07 July 2022
© 2018. The Libyan Authority of Scientific Research and Technologyand the Libyan Biotechnology Research Center. All rights reserved. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License,permitting copying and reproductionso long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, oradapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
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