Gut microbiota, circadian rhythms and their interactions: implications for the pathogenesis and treatment of depression

Abstract

Background: Depression is a complex and widespread mental illness that remains poorly understood in terms of pathogenesis and treatment. Recent research has highlighted the intricate connections between gut microbiota and circadian rhythms and indicated that they may serve as significant factors associated with depression. Discussion: The gut microbiota and its metabolites may affect circadian rhythms via microbial oscillations, neurotransmitters, vagus nerve, epigenetic modifications and immune regulation, whereas the circadian rhythms may affect the gut microbiota via circadian gene expression, neurotransmitters, vagus nerve and immune regulation. These findings may provide new perspectives on the pathogenesis of depression and have led to the development of novel treatments targeting the gut microbiota, circadian rhythms and their interactions. This review explores how disturbances in the gut microbiota and circadian rhythms may contribute to depression and discusses the innovative treatments that have resulted from this knowledge. Conclusion: By focusing on this emerging area of study, this review reveals promising new developments in the pathogenesis and treatment of depression, emphasizing the novel concept that balancing our internal microbiome and body clock could be key to effectively managing this condition.