title: Neurotransmitters: The Critical Modulators Regulating Gut-Brain Axis.
abstract: Neurotransmitters, including catecholamines and serotonin, play a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis in the human body. Studies on these neurotransmitters mainly revolved around their role in the "fight or flight" response, transmitting signals across a chemical synapse and modulating blood flow throughout the body. However, recent research has demonstrated that neurotransmitters can play a significant role in the gastrointestinal (GI) physiology. Norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E), dopamine (DA), and serotonin have recently been a topic of interest because of their roles in the gut physiology and their potential roles in GI and central nervous system pathophysiology. These neurotransmitters are able to regulate and control not only blood flow, but also affect gut motility, nutrient absorption, GI innate immune system, and the microbiome. Furthermore, in pathological states, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and Parkinson's disease, the levels of these neurotransmitters are dysregulated, therefore causing a variety of GI symptoms. Research in this field has shown that exogenous manipulation of catecholamine serum concentrations can help in decreasing symptomology and/or disease progression. In this review article, we discuss the current state-of-the-art research and literature regarding the role of neurotransmitters in regulation of normal GI physiology, their impact on several disease processes, and novel work focused on the use of exogenous hormones and/or psychotropic medications to improve disease symptomology. J. Cell. Physiol. 232: 2359-2372, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.
authors: Rahul
authors: R
authors: Mittal
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.
authors: Luca H
authors: LH
authors: Debs
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.
authors: Amit P
authors: AP
authors: Patel
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.
authors: Desiree
authors: D
authors: Nguyen
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.
authors: Kunal
authors: K
authors: Patel
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.
authors: Gregory
authors: G
authors: O'Connor
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.
authors: M'hamed
authors: M
authors: Grati
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.
authors: Jeenu
authors: J
authors: Mittal
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.
authors: Denise
authors: D
authors: Yan
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.
authors: Adrien A
authors: AA
authors: Eshraghi
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.
authors: Sapna K
authors: SK
authors: Deo
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.
authors: Sylvia
authors: S
authors: Daunert
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.
authors: Xue Zhong
authors: XZ
authors: Liu
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017615:Enteric Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism*; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000294:innervation* / Q000382:microbiology*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D012701:Serotonin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate