Role of Gut–Brain Axis in HIV-1 Infection

Abstract

The gut–brain axis (GBA) represents the network that connects the gut and brain, and plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis. It is now gaining ever more attention in fields exploring the biological and physiological basis of infectious, age-related, psychiatric, neurodevelopmental, and neurodegenerative disorders. The brain and gut are connected both physically and biochemically in several different ways such as through the immune system, vagus nerve, or enteric nervous system, involving microbial metabolites. Gut microbiota plays an important role in regulating the GBA. Published data have suggested the role of gut microbiota in many neurological conditions, including autism, anxiety, schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection. The crosstalk between gut microbiota and GBA may have a crucial impact on neurogenerative processes during HIV-1 infection. In this chapter, we discuss our current understanding about gut microbiota composition, its role in HIV-1 infection, and promising therapeutic approaches to treat the gut dysbiosis in HIV-1 infection. © 2022 by World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd. All rights reserved.