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Gut regulates brain synaptic assembly through neuroendocrine signaling pathway

Shi, Y.; Qin, L.; Shao, Z.

2021-03-14 neuroscience Community evaluation
10.1101/2021.01.29.428811 bioRxiv
Show abstract

The gut-brain axis plays an essential role in regulating neural development in response to environmental stimuli, such as microbes or nutrients. Defects in gut-brain communication can lead to various neurological disorders. However, it remains unknown whether gut plays any intrinsic role in regulating neuronal development. Through a genetic screen in C. elegans, we uncovered that an intrinsic Wnt-endocrine pathway in gut regulates synaptic development and neuronal activity in brain. Specifically, the Wnt signaling upregulates the expression of the neuropeptide NLP-40 in the gut, which then facilitates presynaptic assembly through the neuronal expressed GPCR AEX-2 receptor during development. The NLP-40 acts most likely through modulating neuronal activity and promoting synaptic protein trafficking. Therefore, this study reveals a novel role of gut in synaptic development in the brain.

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