Gut microbiota dysbiosis-mediated ceramides elevation contributes to corticosterone-induced depression by impairing mitochondrial function
2024
Guanhao Wang | Lining Cao | Shuanqing Li | Meihui Zhang | Yingqi Li | Jinjin Duan | You Li | Zhangsen Hu | Jiaan Wu | Jianbo Ni | Danmei Lan | Tianming Li | Jianfeng Lu
Abstract The role of gut microbiota (GM) dysbiosis in the pathogenesis of depression has received widespread attention, but the mechanism remains elusive. Corticosterone (CORT)-treated mice showed depression-like behaviors, reduced hippocampal neurogenesis, and altered composition of the GM. Fecal microbial transplantation from CORT-treated mice transferred depression-like phenotypes and their dominant GM to the recipients. Fecal metabolic profiling exposed remarkable increase of gut ceramides in CORT-treated and recipient mice. Oral gavage with Bifidobacterium pseudolongum and Lactobacillus reuteri could induce elevations of gut ceramides in mice. Ceramides-treated mice showed depressive-like phenotypes, significant downregulation of oxidative phosphorylation-associated genes, and hippocampal mitochondrial dysfunction. Our study demonstrated a link between chronic exposure to CORT and its impact on GM composition, which induces ceramides accumulation, ultimately leading to hippocampal mitochondrial dysfunction. This cascade of events plays a critical role in reducing adult hippocampal neurogenesis and is strongly associated with the development of depression-like behaviors.
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