Chronic gastrointestinal inflammation induces anxiety-like behavior and alters central nervous syste

Chronic gastrointestinal inflammation induces anxiety-like behavior and alters central nervous system biochemistry in mice.

Abstract

BACKGROUND & AIMS:
Clinical and preclinical studies have associated gastrointestinal inflammation and infection with altered behavior. We investigated whether chronic gut inflammation alters behavior and brain biochemistry and examined underlying mechanisms.

METHODS:
AKR mice were infected with the noninvasive parasite Trichuris muris and given etanercept, budesonide, or specific probiotics. Subdiaphragmatic vagotomy was performed in a subgroup of mice before infection. Gastrointestinal inflammation was assessed by histology and quantification of myeloperoxidase activity. Serum proteins were measured by proteomic analysis, circulating cytokines were measured by fluorescence activated cell sorting array, and serum tryptophan and kynurenine were measured by liquid chromatography. Behavior was assessed using light/dark preference and step-down tests. In situ hybridization was used to assess brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in the brain.

RESULTS:
T muris caused mild to moderate colonic inflammation and anxiety-like behavior that was associated with decreased hippocampal BDNF messenger RNA (mRNA). Circulating tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ, as well as the kynurenine and kynurenine/tryptophan ratio, were increased. Proteomic analysis showed altered levels of several proteins related to inflammation and neural function. Administration of etanercept, and to a lesser degree of budesonide, normalized behavior, reduced cytokine and kynurenine levels, but did not influence BDNF expression. The probiotic Bifidobacterium longum normalized behavior and BDNF mRNA but did not affect cytokine or kynurenine levels. Anxiety-like behavior was present in infected mice after vagotomy.

CONCLUSIONS:
Chronic gastrointestinal inflammation induces anxiety-like behavior and alters central nervous system biochemistry, which can be normalized by inflammation-dependent and -independent mechanisms, neither of which requires the integrity of the vagus nerve.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20600016

Interesting stuff. Most of the serotonin, along with other feel good, mood balancing chemicals are made in the small and large bowel so it's no surprise that when that area is compromised in some way, the result can be powerful feelings of anxiety. Gut inflammation is implicated in mental health disorders and it's one of the reasons why medications like Bupropion/Wellbutrin often have benefits for IBD patients.

I also think it works both ways - I believe that anyone with any type of gut inflammation ought to regard stress as their number one enemy. Even in IBS (microscopic colitis), gut directed hypnotherapy has been shown to mitigate inflammation and the symptoms it produces.

I have some confirmation that stress is driving my irritable bowel syndrome (not the same thing as microscopic colitis) as the diet my dietitian has had me on since April 6 (that I've followed to a "T" hasn't helped a whole lot, she told me yesterday when I saw her as she read my journal for diet and bowel activity that it was clear that for me so far stress is driving my bowels to misbehave so we're now doing the re-introduction over the next 3 weeks just to make sure I don't have any food intolerance issues as well which I very well could be at this point my IBS is definitely stress driven compared to diet)

I suppose having flaring crohn's colitis didn't help matters either...GI suspected about 14 years ago that I had some IBS going on but it was hard to know for sure as I was flaring up until last year...Humira put my IBD in remission but my guts are still acting terribly (I also have been depressed and living with anxiety for many many years now) especially since getting sick 24 yrs ago with CD.

pb4

are you also taking a strong probiotic in addition to your diet mod? I found that diet mod. was not enough and had to use VSL#3 plus mesalamine enema plus oral RX to get benefit of diet mod.
I've done almost all the IBD "name" diets and only saw results when I ate what my gut told me to (plus VSL and meds). Took me a very long time to determine my OK food list. Once my gut calmed down I'm able to add some non-OK foods back in.

I also saw benefits from clay water, wild oil of oregano and turmeric/pepper capsules, OTC anti-histamines (Benadryl). Stress is def. not my causal issue, I'm only stressed when my gut acts up.

Hey Marauder, thanks but I was looking for this:
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25911232

LOL, yes Ewa, I was toting all about primapophilus Ruerteri here at HW years ago when I discovered it...then they tripled the price so I got one that was comparable to it, and it works just the same. I suppose the way each probiotic works differently for each person taking it too.

LOL though, that's so funny you asking me about the primadophilus reuteri though hahaha first time in my life that my good advice came full circle in someone asking if I've ever tried it too funny hahaha!