Fecal microbiota transplantation therapy

The gut microbiota influences both gastrointestinal and neurobehavioral health. A study in Scientific Reports investigated fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) as a treatment for acetic acid-induced colitis and associated anxiety-like behaviors in rats. Colitis was induced via rectal acetic acid administration, leading to macroscopic colon damage, increased disease index, and elevated expression of NF-κB, NLRP3, Caspase1, IL-1β and IL-18, markers of inflammation, in colon and hippocampal tissues compared to untreated animals. FMT treatment significantly reduced acetic acid-induced colon pathology and suppressed the activation of the NLRP3-Caspase1 signaling pathway. Behavioral tests indicated that FMT also alleviated anxiety-like symptoms. Mechanistically, FMT downregulated NF-κB, NLRP3, and Caspase1 expression and decreased IL-1β and IL-18 levels in both the colon and hippocampus. These findings suggest that FMT exerts anti-inflammatory and anxiolytic effects through modulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. FMT may serve as a therapeutic strategy for treating inflammatory bowel diseases and their associated neurobehavioral comorbidities.

Original reference: Mohammadi, M. et al. Sci. Rep. 15, 14831 (2025)