The 5-HT-related gut-brain axis in obesity

Aims: The incidence of obesity increases annually. It is closely related to the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases, malignant tumors, etc., and has become a major global health problem. 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), a multifunctional monoamine neurotransmitter, is dispersed throughout the central nervous system and digestive tract. It is intimately related to the mechanism of obesity. Materials and methods: PubMed, Web of Science and Embase were carefully searched. We collected articles that are closely related to 5-HT, the gut-brain axis, and obesity. Key fingdings: The gut microbiota not only influences nutrient metabolism but also centrally meditates appetite and mood regulation. The gut-brain axis, a system connecting the gut and the brain, is known to participate in two-way communication between the gut flora and the central nervous system. Significance: There have been few reports on whether peripheral and central 5-HT interact bidirectionally via the gut-brain axis and jointly play a role in the pathogenesis of obesity. In this review, we summarize the rationale for the contribution of the 5-HT-related gut-brain axis to the development of obesity and explore feasible signaling pathways, which elucidates new targets for preventing and treating obesity.