Akkermansia muciniphila Is Beneficial to a Mouse Model of Parkinson’s Disease, via Alleviated Neuroinflammation and Promoted Neurogenesis, with Involvement of SCFAs

• Published in: Brain sciences Vol. 14; no. 3; p. 238
• Main Authors: Qiao, Chen-Meng, Huang, Wen-Yan, Zhou, Yu, Quan, Wei, Niu, Gu-Yu, Li, Ting, Zhang, Mei-Xuan, Wu, Jian, Zhao, Li-Ping, Zhao, Wei-Jiang, Cui, Chun, Shen, Yan-Qin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 29.02.2024; MDPI
• Subjects: Akkermansia muciniphila; Antibiotics; Brain research; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Disease; Dopamine receptors; Feces; Glycerol; Hippocampus; Inflammation; Intestinal microflora; Intestine; Kinases; Laboratory animals; Metabolites; Microbiota; Movement disorders; MPTP; Neostriatum; Neurodegenerative diseases; Neurogenesis; Neuroprotection; Parkinson's disease; Permeability; Proteins; SCFAs; Substantia nigra; Beijing China; United States > US; China; neurogenesis; SCFAs; Akkermansia muciniphila; inflammation; Parkinson’s disease
• ISSN: 2076-3425; 2076-3425
• DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14030238

Increasing evidence suggests that the gut microbiota may represent potential strategies for Parkinson’s disease (PD) treatment. Our previous research revealed a decreased abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila (Akk) in PD mice; however, whether Akk is beneficial to PD is unknown. To answer this question, the mice received MPTP intraperitoneally to construct a subacute model of PD and were then supplemented with Akk orally for 21 consecutive days. Motor function, dopaminergic neurons, neuroinflammation, and neurogenesis were examined. In addition, intestinal inflammation, and serum and fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) analyses, were assessed. We found that Akk treatment effectively inhibited the reduction of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and partially improved the motor function in PD mice. Additionally, Akk markedly alleviated neuroinflammation in the striatum and hippocampus and promoted hippocampal neurogenesis. It also decreased the level of colon inflammation. Furthermore, these aforementioned changes are mainly accompanied by alterations in serum and fecal isovaleric acid levels, and lower intestinal permeability. Our research strongly suggests that Akk is a potential neuroprotective agent for PD therapy.