Crosstalk between the Gut and Brain in Ischemic Stroke: Mechanistic Insights and Therapeutic Options

Figure 2

An inflammatory mechanism of the MGBA in IS. By controlling the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier, which includes inflammatory cell activation and the production of proinflammatory substances, gut microbiota and their metabolites play a role in the development of intestinal inflammation. Through the expression of TLR, microbial metabolites like TMAO and LPS can also contribute to neuroinflammation and intestinal inflammation. The vagus nerve and blood circulation establish a pathway for intestinal inflammation through which the neurotoxins produced in the gut can reach the brain. The specific manifestations of microbiota-mediated neuroinflammation include the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier, activation of microglia, astrocyte proliferation, and the generation of proinflammatory cytokines.