Zhang X, Jin WW, Wang HG. Correlation between the neuroendocrine axis, microbial species, inflammatory response, and gastrointestinal symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome. World J Gastroenterol 2024; 30(35): 3985-3995 [PMID: 39351052 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i35.3985]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Hong-Gang Wang, PhD, Chief Physician, Department of Gastroenterology, Taizhou Municipal Hospital, No. 210 Yingchun Road, Taizhou 524333, Zhejiang Province, China. woxia09949287@163.com
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Article-Type of This Article
Case Control Study
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Gastroenterol. Sep 21, 2024; 30(35): 3985-3995 Published online Sep 21, 2024. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i35.3985
Correlation between the neuroendocrine axis, microbial species, inflammatory response, and gastrointestinal symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome
Xin Zhang, Wei-Wei Jin, Hong-Gang Wang
Xin Zhang, Department of Gastroenterology, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Taizhou 524333, Zhejiang Province, China
Wei-Wei Jin, Department of Nutrition, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Taizhou 524333, Zhejiang Province, China
Hong-Gang Wang, Department of Gastroenterology, Taizhou Municipal Hospital, Taizhou 524333, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: Zhang X conceptualized and designed the study, conducted the primary research, and contributed to the manuscript's writing and editing; Jin WW was responsible for data collection and analysis, result interpretation, and assisted in drafting the manuscript; Wang HG provided critical revisions, supervised the research process, and ensured the integrity and accuracy of the data.
Institutional review board statement: All procedures of this study were reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of the Taizhou Municipal Hospital.
Informed consent statement: All study participants or their legal guardian provided informed written consent about personal and medical data collection prior to study enrolment.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Data sharing statement: Not available.
STROBE statement: The authors have read the STROBE Statement-checklist of items, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the STROBE Statement-checklist of items.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Hong-Gang Wang, PhD, Chief Physician, Department of Gastroenterology, Taizhou Municipal Hospital, No. 210 Yingchun Road, Taizhou 524333, Zhejiang Province, China. woxia09949287@163.com
Received: June 28, 2024 Revised: August 22, 2024 Accepted: September 2, 2024 Published online: September 21, 2024 Processing time: 76 Days and 20.9 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
This study examines the complex relationships among the neuroendocrine axis, gut microbiome, inflammatory responses, and gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The findings provide new insights into the pathophysiology of IBS and suggest potential therapeutic targets for improving patient outcomes.
AIM
To investigate the interactions between the neuroendocrine axis, gut microbiome, inflammation, and gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with IBS.
METHODS
Patients diagnosed with IBS between January 2022 and January 2023 were selected for the study. Healthy individuals undergoing routine check-ups during the same period served as the control group. Data were collected on neuroendocrine hormone levels, gut microbiome profiles, inflammatory biomarkers, and gastrointestinal symptomatology to analyze their interrelations and their potential roles in IBS pathogenesis.
RESULTS
IBS patients exhibited significant dysregulation of the neuroendocrine axis, with altered levels of cortisol, serotonin, and neuropeptides compared to healthy controls. The gut microbiome of IBS patients showed reduced diversity and specific alterations in bacterial genera, including Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Faecalibacterium, which were associated with neuroendocrine disturbances. Additionally, elevated levels of inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α, were observed and correlated with the severity of gastrointestinal symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel habits.
CONCLUSION
The findings suggest that targeting the neuroendocrine axis, gut microbiome, and inflammatory pathways may offer novel therapeutic strategies to alleviate symptoms and improve the quality of life in IBS patients.
Core Tip: The findings suggest that targeting the neuroendocrine axis, gut microbiome, and inflammatory pathways may offer novel therapeutic strategies to alleviate symptoms and improve the quality of life in irritable bowel syndrome patients.
