Abstract
Psychological stress is known to induce somatic symptoms. Classically, many gut physiological responses to stress are mediated by the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. There is, however, a growing body of evidence of stress-induced corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) release causing bowel dysfunction through multiple pathways, either through the HPA axis, the autonomic nervous systems, or directly on the bowel itself. In addition, recent findings of CRF influencing the composition of gut microbiota lend support for the use of probiotics, antibiotics, and other microbiota-altering agents as potential therapeutic measures in stress-induced bowel dysfunction.
Keywords:
NLRP6; bowel dysfunction; irritable bowel syndrome; microbiota; stress.
Publication types
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Editorial
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
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Autonomic Nervous System / metabolism
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Autonomic Nervous System / physiopathology
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Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / metabolism
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Gastrointestinal Agents / therapeutic use
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Humans
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Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / metabolism
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Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / physiopathology
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Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
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Intestinal Diseases / etiology*
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Intestinal Diseases / metabolism
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Intestinal Diseases / microbiology
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Intestinal Diseases / physiopathology
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Intestinal Diseases / therapy
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Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
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Intestines / drug effects
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Intestines / microbiology
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Intestines / physiopathology*
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Pituitary-Adrenal System / metabolism
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Pituitary-Adrenal System / physiopathology
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Probiotics / therapeutic use
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Risk Factors
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Signal Transduction
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Stress, Psychological / complications*
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Stress, Psychological / metabolism
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Stress, Psychological / physiopathology
Substances
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents
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Gastrointestinal Agents
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Inflammation Mediators
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Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone