Mental Health Disorders Due to Gut Microbiome Alteration and NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation After Spinal Cord Injury: Molecular Mechanisms, Promising Treatments, and Aids from Artificial Intelligence

Brain Sci., 2025 · DOI: 10.3390/brainsci15020197 · Published: February 14, 2025

Mental Health Neurology Gastroenterology

Simple Explanation

Spinal cord injury (SCI) can lead to secondary complications, including gut dysbiosis (GD) and NLRP3 inflammasome activation, which can impact mental health. The gut microbiome's balance is disrupted after SCI, potentially causing GD. Metabolites produced by the gut microbiome are affected by GD, disrupting cognitive processes and increasing vulnerability to mental health disorders in SCI patients. The NLRP3 inflammasome plays a key role in the maturation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which can initiate and worsen mental health disorders after SCI. Treatments like fecal microbiome transplants, phytochemicals, and melatonin have shown effectiveness in combating GD and NLRP3 inflammasome's effects, alleviating mental health symptoms. Artificial intelligence (AI) is being explored to support treatments by tracking changes in the gut microbiome, simulating drug-gut interactions, and designing anti-NLRP3 inflammasome peptides. While promising, further research is needed to fully leverage AI for treating mental health disorders in SCI.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Preclinical and clinical studies

Evidence Level

Review article

Key Findings

1
Gut dysbiosis (GD) and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome are significant secondary complications after spinal cord injury (SCI), impacting mental health.
2
Fecal microbiome transplants, phytochemicals, and melatonin show promise in combating GD and NLRP3 inflammasome, potentially alleviating mental health symptoms post-SCI.
3
Artificial intelligence (AI) applications, such as tracking gut microbiome changes and designing anti-NLRP3 peptides, hold potential for supporting mental health treatments in SCI patients.

Research Summary

Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to secondary complications like gut dysbiosis (GD) and NLRP3 inflammasome activation, impacting mental health due to disrupted gut microbiome and inflammatory processes. Treatments such as fecal microbiome transplants, phytochemicals, and melatonin are effective in combating GD and NLRP3 inflammasome, reducing mental health symptoms. Artificial intelligence (AI) advancements offer support for treatments by tracking gut microbiome changes, simulating drug interactions, and designing anti-NLRP3 inflammasome peptides, requiring further research for optimal application.

Practical Implications

Therapeutic interventions

Fecal microbiome transplants, phytochemicals, and melatonin can be used to combat GD and NLRP3 inflammasome.

AI-guided treatment

AI-guided sensors can track the gut microbiome in the various stages of Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Drug efficacy

Machine learning models that used prior research on drug-gut interactions can determine how effective drugs that were in development could be.

Study Limitations

1
Variability in gut bacterial composition changes post SCI depending on the vertebrae injured.
2
Treatments for restoring gut microbiome composition are effective only in improving mental health status and are not yet a solution for restoring motor function after a traumatic SCI.
3
Further research is required to fully leverage AI for treating mental health disorders in SCI.

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