Role of the Gut Microbiota in Ischemic Stroke

Abstract

Recent studies have provided evidence for the role of the gut microbiota in the homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS) and in the pathophysiology of its disorders, e. g. by regulation of the peripheral immune response. In this article, we discuss the importance of the gut microbiota in stroke by providing a summary of available clinical and experimental data suggesting that 1) stroke changes the gut microbiome, 2) microbiota modulates stroke outcome and 3) microbiota plays an important role in the pathogenesis of stroke (risk factors). Currently available clinical and experimental evidence suggests an important role of gut microbiota in stroke and promises clinically relevant discoveries within coming years.