Lactobacillus reuteri-derived γ-amino butyric acid alleviates MPTP-induced Parkinson’s disease through inhibiting ferroptosis via the AKT-GSK3β-GPX4 axis

Abstract Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a debilitating neurological disorder characterized by motor dysfunction, which has been associated with alterations in the gut microbiota. Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri), a safe and versatile probiotic, exhibits potent immunomodulatory functions and neuroprot...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xuechao Dong, Teng Yang, Zheng Jin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-06-01
Series:npj Parkinson's Disease
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-025-01022-y
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849724797714432000
author Xuechao Dong
Teng Yang
Zheng Jin
author_facet Xuechao Dong
Teng Yang
Zheng Jin
author_sort Xuechao Dong
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a debilitating neurological disorder characterized by motor dysfunction, which has been associated with alterations in the gut microbiota. Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri), a safe and versatile probiotic, exhibits potent immunomodulatory functions and neuroprotective effects. However, the extent and mechanisms by which L. reuteri mitigates PD remain unclear. Here, we demonstrated that L. reuteri significantly alleviated MPTP-induced PD in mice. Importantly, we found that the protective effects of L. reuteri are mediated by its bioactive metabolites rather than the bacteria themselves. Specifically, L. reuteri elevated the levels of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Administration of GABA to mice mitigated MPTP-induced PD. Mechanistically, GABA inhibited MPTP-induced ferroptosis in neuronal cells through activation of the AKT-GSK3β-GPX4 pathway via the GABA receptor. Collectively, our research elucidates that L. reuteri-derived GABA attenuates MPTP-induced PD by inhibiting ferroptosis via the AKT-GSK3β-GPX4 axis, providing a potential therapeutic approach for the prevention and treatment of PD.
format Article
id doaj-art-db83dd91a2be4d41958961567ebe5e1f
institution DOAJ
issn 2373-8057
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series npj Parkinson's Disease
spelling doaj-art-db83dd91a2be4d41958961567ebe5e1f2025-08-20T03:10:38ZengNature Portfolionpj Parkinson's Disease2373-80572025-06-0111111210.1038/s41531-025-01022-yLactobacillus reuteri-derived γ-amino butyric acid alleviates MPTP-induced Parkinson’s disease through inhibiting ferroptosis via the AKT-GSK3β-GPX4 axisXuechao Dong0Teng Yang1Zheng Jin2Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Jilin UniversityDepartment of Orthopedics, The First Hospital of Jilin UniversityDepartment of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Jilin UniversityAbstract Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a debilitating neurological disorder characterized by motor dysfunction, which has been associated with alterations in the gut microbiota. Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri), a safe and versatile probiotic, exhibits potent immunomodulatory functions and neuroprotective effects. However, the extent and mechanisms by which L. reuteri mitigates PD remain unclear. Here, we demonstrated that L. reuteri significantly alleviated MPTP-induced PD in mice. Importantly, we found that the protective effects of L. reuteri are mediated by its bioactive metabolites rather than the bacteria themselves. Specifically, L. reuteri elevated the levels of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Administration of GABA to mice mitigated MPTP-induced PD. Mechanistically, GABA inhibited MPTP-induced ferroptosis in neuronal cells through activation of the AKT-GSK3β-GPX4 pathway via the GABA receptor. Collectively, our research elucidates that L. reuteri-derived GABA attenuates MPTP-induced PD by inhibiting ferroptosis via the AKT-GSK3β-GPX4 axis, providing a potential therapeutic approach for the prevention and treatment of PD.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-025-01022-y
spellingShingle Xuechao Dong
Teng Yang
Zheng Jin
Lactobacillus reuteri-derived γ-amino butyric acid alleviates MPTP-induced Parkinson’s disease through inhibiting ferroptosis via the AKT-GSK3β-GPX4 axis
npj Parkinson's Disease
title Lactobacillus reuteri-derived γ-amino butyric acid alleviates MPTP-induced Parkinson’s disease through inhibiting ferroptosis via the AKT-GSK3β-GPX4 axis
title_full Lactobacillus reuteri-derived γ-amino butyric acid alleviates MPTP-induced Parkinson’s disease through inhibiting ferroptosis via the AKT-GSK3β-GPX4 axis
title_fullStr Lactobacillus reuteri-derived γ-amino butyric acid alleviates MPTP-induced Parkinson’s disease through inhibiting ferroptosis via the AKT-GSK3β-GPX4 axis
title_full_unstemmed Lactobacillus reuteri-derived γ-amino butyric acid alleviates MPTP-induced Parkinson’s disease through inhibiting ferroptosis via the AKT-GSK3β-GPX4 axis
title_short Lactobacillus reuteri-derived γ-amino butyric acid alleviates MPTP-induced Parkinson’s disease through inhibiting ferroptosis via the AKT-GSK3β-GPX4 axis
title_sort lactobacillus reuteri derived γ amino butyric acid alleviates mptp induced parkinson s disease through inhibiting ferroptosis via the akt gsk3β gpx4 axis
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-025-01022-y
work_keys_str_mv AT xuechaodong lactobacillusreuteriderivedgaminobutyricacidalleviatesmptpinducedparkinsonsdiseasethroughinhibitingferroptosisviatheaktgsk3bgpx4axis
AT tengyang lactobacillusreuteriderivedgaminobutyricacidalleviatesmptpinducedparkinsonsdiseasethroughinhibitingferroptosisviatheaktgsk3bgpx4axis
AT zhengjin lactobacillusreuteriderivedgaminobutyricacidalleviatesmptpinducedparkinsonsdiseasethroughinhibitingferroptosisviatheaktgsk3bgpx4axis