Novel Brain-to-Gut Communication Pathway Discovered in Study on Stress-Induced Intestinal Inflammation

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at the University of los Andes in Santiago, Chile, have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of gastroenterology, revealing a novel brain-to-gut communication pathway mediated by astrocyte-derived small extracellular vesicles (AsEVs). This pathway, which regulates intestinal inflammation, has significant implications for the understanding and treatment of stress-induced inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).

Key Takeaways:

  • A study published in Molecular Psychiatry found that psychological stress can influence intestinal inflammation through the release of AsEVs derived from astrocytes.
  • AsEVs from corticosterone-treated astrocytes were found to mediate inflammation in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), whereas AsEVs from control astrocyte cultures tended to have an anti-inflammatory effect.
  • The study's findings suggest that a brain-to-gut communication pathway mediated by AsEVs may impact stress-induced IBD pathophysiology and other stress-induced comorbidities.
  • The study identified the presence of the membrane gut homing receptor CCR9 on AsEVs, which mediates their association with the CCR9-endogenous ligand CCL25.
  • In-vitro experiments with disaggregated mesenteric lymph nodes revealed the immunomodulatory functions of AsEVs from corticosterone-treated astrocytes.
  • The study's results may have significant implications for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for stress-induced IBD and other related conditions.

Statistics:

  • The study's results were peer-reviewed and published in Molecular Psychiatry in 2025.
  • The University of los Andes is located in Santiago, Chile, and is home to the Centro de Investigacion e Innovacion Biomedica.
  • The study involved a team of researchers from the University of los Andes, including Matias Pizarro, Liliana Yanten-Fuentes, and others.
  • Additional authors on the study include Carolina Rojas, Carolina Pradenas, Maxs Mendez-Ruette, Katherine Corvalan, Gonzalo Bustos, Alejandro Luarte, Luis Federico Batiz, Patricia Luz-Crawford, Karina Pino-Lagos, and Ursula Wyneken.
  • The study's findings highlight the importance of further research into the role of AsEVs in stress-induced IBD and other related conditions.

Sources:

  • NewsRx (2025). Investigators at University of los Andes Target Gastroenterology (A novel brain-to-gut communication pathway mediated by astrocyte-derived small extracellular vesicles modulates stress-induced intestinal inflammation). Psychology & Psychiatry Journal, p 2204.
  • Pizarro et al. (2025). A novel brain-to-gut communication pathway mediated by astrocyte-derived small extracellular vesicles modulates stress-induced intestinal inflammation. Molecular Psychiatry.