Affiliations: [a] CNC–Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology and CIBB-Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| [b] Ph.D. Programme in Biomedicine and Experimental Biology (PDBEB), Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| [c] Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| [d] IIIUC–Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
Correspondence:
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Correspondence to: Ana Raquel Fernandes Esteves, CNC– Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology and CIBB-Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal. Tel.: +351 239 820190; E-mail resteves@cnc.uc.pt.
Abstract: Accumulating evidence suggests that gut inflammation is implicated in neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Despite the numerous connections it remains unclear how the gut and the brain communicate and whether gut dysbiosis is the cause or consequence of these pathologies. Importantly, several reports highlight the importance of mitochondria in the gut-brain axis, as well as in mechanisms like gut epithelium self-renewal, differentiation, and homeostasis. Herein we comprehensively address the important role of mitochondria as a cellular hub in infection and inflammation and as a link between inflammation and neurodegeneration in the gut-brain axis. The role of mitochondria in gut homeostasis and as well the crosstalk between mitochondria and gut microbiota is discussed. Significantly, we also review studies highlighting how gut microbiota can ultimately affect the central nervous system. Overall, this review summarizes novel findings regarding this cross-talk where the mitochondria has a main role in the pathophysiology of both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease strengthen by cellular, animal and clinical studies.
