Gut microbiota-tryptophan-serotonin axis drives anxiety-like behavior via NLRP3-mediated neuronal pyroptosis in the medial prefrontal cortex
Keywords
In a mouse model of radiofrequency radiation-induced anxiety-like behaviors, gut microbiota dysbiosis was associated with disrupted tryptophan metabolism, reduced serotonin levels, and NLRP3-mediated neuronal pyroptosis in the medial prefrontal cortex. Probio…
Study snapshot
Abstract
The gut-brain axis plays a critical role in anxiety disorders, yet the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Using a mouse model of radiofrequency radiation (RFR)-induced anxiety-like behaviors, we employed gut microbiota intervention, regulation of tryptophan metabolites, and other methods to investigate the impact of the gut-brain axis on brain function changes. It was found that gut microbiota dysbiosis disrupts tryptophan metabolism, leading to reduced serotonin (5-HT) levels and NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated neuronal pyroptosis in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Probiotic intervention restored microbial homeostasis, normalized central 5-HT metabolism, suppressed neuronal pyroptosis, and partially alleviated anxiety-like behaviors. Similarly, treatment with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) paroxetine increased brain 5-HT, attenuated NLRP3 activation and pyroptosis, and improved behavioral outcomes. These findings reveal that perturbations in gut-brain tryptophan metabolism are strongly correlated with anxiety-like behaviors via neuroinflammatory pyroptotic pathways, offering new mechanistic insights and potential therapeutic targets for anxiety disorders.
AI evidence extraction
Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.
Main findings
In a mouse model of radiofrequency radiation-induced anxiety-like behaviors, gut microbiota dysbiosis was associated with disrupted tryptophan metabolism, reduced serotonin levels, and NLRP3-mediated neuronal pyroptosis in the medial prefrontal cortex. Probiotic intervention and paroxetine treatment restored aspects of 5-HT metabolism, reduced pyroptosis-related signaling, and partially improved anxiety-like behavioral outcomes.
Outcomes measured
- anxiety-like behaviors
- gut microbiota dysbiosis
- tryptophan metabolism
- serotonin (5-HT) levels
- NLRP3 inflammasome activation
- neuronal pyroptosis in the medial prefrontal cortex
Limitations
- Animal study
- Exposure details such as frequency, SAR, and duration were not provided in the abstract
- Sample size was not reported in the abstract
- Findings are described as correlated/mechanistic within a mouse model
View raw extracted JSON
{
"study_type": "animal",
"exposure": {
"band": "RF",
"source": "other",
"frequency_mhz": null,
"sar_wkg": null,
"duration": null
},
"population": "Mouse model of radiofrequency radiation-induced anxiety-like behaviors",
"sample_size": null,
"outcomes": [
"anxiety-like behaviors",
"gut microbiota dysbiosis",
"tryptophan metabolism",
"serotonin (5-HT) levels",
"NLRP3 inflammasome activation",
"neuronal pyroptosis in the medial prefrontal cortex"
],
"main_findings": "In a mouse model of radiofrequency radiation-induced anxiety-like behaviors, gut microbiota dysbiosis was associated with disrupted tryptophan metabolism, reduced serotonin levels, and NLRP3-mediated neuronal pyroptosis in the medial prefrontal cortex. Probiotic intervention and paroxetine treatment restored aspects of 5-HT metabolism, reduced pyroptosis-related signaling, and partially improved anxiety-like behavioral outcomes.",
"effect_direction": "harm",
"limitations": [
"Animal study",
"Exposure details such as frequency, SAR, and duration were not provided in the abstract",
"Sample size was not reported in the abstract",
"Findings are described as correlated/mechanistic within a mouse model"
],
"evidence_strength": "low",
"confidence": 0.91,
"peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
"keywords": [
"radiofrequency radiation",
"RFR",
"mouse model",
"anxiety-like behavior",
"gut-brain axis",
"gut microbiota",
"tryptophan metabolism",
"serotonin",
"5-HT",
"NLRP3 inflammasome",
"neuronal pyroptosis",
"medial prefrontal cortex"
],
"suggested_hubs": []
}AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.
Identifiers and source
DOI: 10.1007/s10495-026-02356-5
PubMed: 42106547