The brain-gut axis and chronic pain: mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities
Authors: Ho, T., Elma, Ö., Kocanda, L., Brain, K., Lam, T., Kanhere, T. and Dong, H.J.
Journal: Frontiers in Neuroscience
Volume: 19
eISSN: 1662-453X
ISSN: 1662-4548
DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2025.1545997
Abstract:The brain-gut axis (BGA) is emerging as a critical mediator in chronic pain, involving bidirectional communication between the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal system. The “Pain Matrix” is associated with microbial dysbiosis, vagus nerve dysfunction, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation, driving neuroinflammation and central sensitization. Key mechanisms include microbial diversity loss, leaky gut, and altered neuroactive signaling via short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and vagal pathways. This narrative review explores the intricate interplay between BGA mechanisms and chronic pain, highlighting therapeutic opportunities such as restoring dysbiosis, modulating vagus nerve activity, and regulating endocrine pathways. These interventions target inflammation, autonomic balance, and stress/reward pathway modulation, offering a promising path toward integrative pain management. Further research is required to validate these strategies and improve patient outcomes.
https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/40775/
Source: Scopus
The brain-gut axis and chronic pain: mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities.
Authors: Ho, T., Elma, Ö., Kocanda, L., Brain, K., Lam, T., Kanhere, T. and Dong, H.-J.
Journal: Front Neurosci
Volume: 19
Pages: 1545997
ISSN: 1662-4548
DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2025.1545997
Abstract:The brain-gut axis (BGA) is emerging as a critical mediator in chronic pain, involving bidirectional communication between the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal system. The "Pain Matrix" is associated with microbial dysbiosis, vagus nerve dysfunction, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation, driving neuroinflammation and central sensitization. Key mechanisms include microbial diversity loss, leaky gut, and altered neuroactive signaling via short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and vagal pathways. This narrative review explores the intricate interplay between BGA mechanisms and chronic pain, highlighting therapeutic opportunities such as restoring dysbiosis, modulating vagus nerve activity, and regulating endocrine pathways. These interventions target inflammation, autonomic balance, and stress/reward pathway modulation, offering a promising path toward integrative pain management. Further research is required to validate these strategies and improve patient outcomes.
https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/40775/
Source: PubMed
The brain-gut axis and chronic pain: mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities
Authors: Ho, T., Elma, O., Kocanda, L., Brain, K., Lam, T., Kanhere, T. and Dong, H.-J.
Journal: FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
Volume: 19
eISSN: 1662-453X
DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2025.1545997
https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/40775/
Source: Web of Science (Lite)
The brain-gut axis and chronic pain: mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities
Authors: Ho, T., Elma, O., Kocanda, L., Brain, K., Lam, T., Kanhere, T. and Dong, H.-J.
Journal: Frontiers in Neuroscience
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
eISSN: 1662-453X
ISSN: 1662-4548
DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2025.1545997
Abstract:The brain-gut axis (BGA) is emerging as a critical mediator in chronic pain, involving bidirectional communication between the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal system. The “Pain Matrix” is associated with microbial dysbiosis, vagus nerve dysfunction, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation, driving neuroinflammation and central sensitization. Key mechanisms include microbial diversity loss, leaky gut, and altered neuroactive signaling via short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and vagal pathways. This narrative review explores the intricate interplay between BGA mechanisms and chronic pain, highlighting therapeutic opportunities such as restoring dysbiosis, modulating vagus nerve activity, and regulating endocrine pathways. These interventions target inflammation, autonomic balance, and stress/reward pathway modulation, offering a promising path toward integrative pain management. Further research is required to validate these strategies and improve patient outcomes.
https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/40775/
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2025.1545997/full
Source: Manual
The brain-gut axis and chronic pain: mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities.
Authors: Ho, T., Elma, Ö., Kocanda, L., Brain, K., Lam, T., Kanhere, T. and Dong, H.-J.
Journal: Frontiers in neuroscience
Volume: 19
Pages: 1545997
eISSN: 1662-453X
ISSN: 1662-4548
DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2025.1545997
Abstract:The brain-gut axis (BGA) is emerging as a critical mediator in chronic pain, involving bidirectional communication between the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal system. The "Pain Matrix" is associated with microbial dysbiosis, vagus nerve dysfunction, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation, driving neuroinflammation and central sensitization. Key mechanisms include microbial diversity loss, leaky gut, and altered neuroactive signaling via short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and vagal pathways. This narrative review explores the intricate interplay between BGA mechanisms and chronic pain, highlighting therapeutic opportunities such as restoring dysbiosis, modulating vagus nerve activity, and regulating endocrine pathways. These interventions target inflammation, autonomic balance, and stress/reward pathway modulation, offering a promising path toward integrative pain management. Further research is required to validate these strategies and improve patient outcomes.
https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/40775/
Source: Europe PubMed Central
The brain-gut axis and chronic pain: mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities
Authors: Ho, T., Elma, O., Kocanda, L., Brain, K., Lam, T., Kanhere, T. and Dong, H.-J.
Journal: Frontiers in Neuroscience
Volume: 19
Pages: 1-8
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
ISSN: 1662-4548
Abstract:The brain-gut axis (BGA) is emerging as a critical mediator in chronic pain, involving bidirectional communication between the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal system. The “Pain Matrix” is associated with microbial dysbiosis, vagus nerve dysfunction, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation, driving neuroinflammation and central sensitization. Key mechanisms include microbial diversity loss, leaky gut, and altered neuroactive signaling via short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and vagal pathways. This narrative review explores the intricate interplay between BGA mechanisms and chronic pain, highlighting therapeutic opportunities such as restoring dysbiosis, modulating vagus nerve activity, and regulating endocrine pathways. These interventions target inflammation, autonomic balance, and stress/reward pathway modulation, offering a promising path toward integrative pain management. Further research is required to validate these strategies and improve patient outcomes.
https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/40775/
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2025.1545997/full
Source: BURO EPrints