The gut microbiota is important for the maintenance of blood–cerebrospinal fluid barrier integrity

摘要: The gut microbiota communicates with the brain through several pathways including the vagus nerve, immune system, microbial metabolites and through the endocrine system. Pathways along the humoral/immune gut microbiota–brain axis are composed of a series of vascular and epithelial barriers including the intestinal epithelial barrier, gut–vascular barrier, blood–brain barrier and blood–cerebrospinal fluid barrier. Of these barriers, the relationship between the gut microbiota and blood–cerebrospinal fluid barrier is yet to be fully defined. Here, using a germ‐free mouse model, we aimed to assess the relationship between the gut microbiota and the integrity of the blood–cerebrospinal fluid barrier, which is localized to the choroid plexus epithelium. Using confocal microscopy, we visualized the tight junction protein zonula occludens‐1, an integral aspect of choroid plexus integrity, as well as the choroid plexus …