A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
A gut reaction? The role of the microbiome in aggression
Authors: Uzan-Yulzari, Atara; Turjeman, Sondra; Moadi, Lelyan; Getselter, Dmitriy; Rautava, Samuli; Isolauri, Erika; Khatib, Soliman; Elliott, Evan; Koren, Omry
Publisher: Academic Press
Publication year: 2024
Journal: Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
Journal name in source: Brain, behavior, and immunity
Journal acronym: Brain Behav Immun
Volume: 122
First page : 301
Last page: 312
ISSN: 0889-1591
eISSN: 1090-2139
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2024.08.011
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2024.08.011
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/457634727
Recent research has unveiled conflicting evidence regarding the link between aggression and the gut microbiome. Here, we compared behavior profiles of control, germ-free (GF) and antibiotic-treated mice, as well as re-colonized GF mice to understand the impact of gut microbiome on aggression using the resident-intruder paradigm. Our findings revealed a link between gut microbiome depletion and higher aggression, accompanied by notable changes in urine metabolite profiles and brain gene expression. Our study extends beyond classical murine models to humanized mice to reveal the clinical relevance of early-life antibiotic use on aggression. Fecal microbiome transplant from infants exposed to antibiotics in early life (and sampled one month later) into mice led to increased aggression compared to mice receiving transplants from unexposed infants. This study sheds light on the role of the gut microbiome in modulating aggression and highlights its potential avenues of action, offering insights for development of therapeutic strategies for aggression-related disorders.
Downloadable publication This is an electronic reprint of the original article. |
Funding information in the publication:
ST, LM, and OK are supported by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Grant agreement ERC-2020-COG No. 101001355).