Comprehension of gut microbiota and microRNAs may contribute to the development of innovative treatment tactics against metabolic disorders and psychiatric disorders.

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome is a group of pathological disorders increasing the risk of serious diseases including cardiovascular disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes. Global widespread of the metabolic syndrome has put a heavy social burden. Interestingly, a crucial link between the metabolic syndrome and a psychiatric disorder may frequently coexist, in which certain shared mechanisms might play a role for the pathogenesis. In fact, some microRNAs (miRNAs) have been detected in the overlap pathology, suggesting a common molecular mechanism for the development of both disorders. Subsequent studies have revealed that these miRNAs and several metabolites of gut microbiota such as short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) might be involved in the development of both disorders, in which the association between gut and brain might play key roles with engram memory for the modulation of immune cells. Additionally, the correlation between brain and immunity might also influence the development of several diseases/disorders including metabolic syndrome. Brain could possess several inflammatory responses as an information of pathological images termed engrams. In other words, preservation of the engram memory might be achieved by a meta-plasticity mechanism that shapes the alteration of neuron linkages for the development of immune-related diseases. Therefore, it might be rational that metabolic syndrome and psychiatric disorders may belong to a group of immune-related diseases. Disrupting in gut microbiota may threaten the body homeostasis, leading to initiate a cascade of health problems. This concept may contribute to the development of superior therapeutic application with the usage of some functional components in food against metabolic and psychiatric disorders. This paper reviews advances in understanding the regulatory mechanisms of miRNAs with the impact to gut, liver and brain, deliberating the probable therapeutic techniques against these disorders.