The microbiota regulate neuronal function and fear extinction learning.

TitleThe microbiota regulate neuronal function and fear extinction learning.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2019
AuthorsChu C, Murdock MH, Jing D, Won THyung, Chung H, Kressel AM, Tsaava T, Addorisio ME, Putzel GG, Zhou L, Bessman NJ, Yang R, Moriyama S, Parkhurst CN, Li A, Meyer HC, Teng F, Chavan SS, Tracey KJ, Regev A, Schroeder FC, Lee FS, Liston C, Artis D
JournalNature
Volume574
Issue7779
Pagination543-548
Date Published2019 10
ISSN1476-4687
Abstract

Multicellular organisms have co-evolved with complex consortia of viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites, collectively referred to as the microbiota. In mammals, changes in the composition of the microbiota can influence many physiologic processes (including development, metabolism and immune cell function) and are associated with susceptibility to multiple diseases. Alterations in the microbiota can also modulate host behaviours-such as social activity, stress, and anxiety-related responses-that are linked to diverse neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the mechanisms by which the microbiota influence neuronal activity and host behaviour remain poorly defined. Here we show that manipulation of the microbiota in antibiotic-treated or germ-free adult mice results in significant deficits in fear extinction learning. Single-nucleus RNA sequencing of the medial prefrontal cortex of the brain revealed significant alterations in gene expression in excitatory neurons, glia and other cell types. Transcranial two-photon imaging showed that deficits in extinction learning after manipulation of the microbiota in adult mice were associated with defective learning-related remodelling of postsynaptic dendritic spines and reduced activity in cue-encoding neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex. In addition, selective re-establishment of the microbiota revealed a limited neonatal developmental window in which microbiota-derived signals can restore normal extinction learning in adulthood. Finally, unbiased metabolomic analysis identified four metabolites that were significantly downregulated in germ-free mice and have been reported to be related to neuropsychiatric disorders in humans and mouse models, suggesting that microbiota-derived compounds may directly affect brain function and behaviour. Together, these data indicate that fear extinction learning requires microbiota-derived signals both during early postnatal neurodevelopment and in adult mice, with implications for our understanding of how diet, infection, and lifestyle influence brain health and subsequent susceptibility to neuropsychiatric disorders.

DOI10.1038/s41586-019-1644-y
Alternate JournalNature
PubMed ID31645720
PubMed Central IDPMC6818753
Grant ListR01 AI074878 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R21 AI142213 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R01 AI095466 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
P01 AI102852 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R01 NS052819 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH109685 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01 AI102942 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R35 GM118182 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
U01 AI095608 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH118451 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States