Chiral nanoparticle-remodeled gut microbiota alleviates neurodegeneration via the gut–brain axis

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by amyloid-β accumulation in the brain and hyperphosphorylated tau aggregation, as well as neuroinflammation. The gut–brain axis has emerged as a therapeutic target in neurodegenerative diseases by modulating metabolic activity, neuroimmune functions and sensory neuronal signaling. Here we investigate interactions between orally ingested chiral Au nanoparticles and the gut microbiota in AD mice. Oral administration of chiral Au nanoparticles restored cognitive abilities and ameliorated amyloid-β and hyperphosphorylated tau pathologies in AD mice via alterations in the gut microbiome composition and an increase in the gut metabolite, indole-3-acetic acid, which was lower in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with AD compared with age-matched controls. Oral administration of indole-3-acetic acid was able to penetrate the blood–brain barrier and alleviated cognitive decline and pathology including neuroinflammation in AD mice. These findings provide a promising therapeutic target for the amelioration of neuroinflammation and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Guo et al. demonstrate that oral administration of chiral nanoparticles ameliorates Alzheimer’s disease-associated pathology and cognitive decline in mice via an increase in the gut metabolite, indole-3-acetic acid, potentially a therapeutic target.