Impact of Pesticide Residues on the Gut-Microbiota–Blood–Brain Barrier Axis: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Accumulating evidence indicates that chronic exposure to a low level of pesticides found in diet affects the human gut-microbiota–blood–brain barrier (BBB) axis. This axis describes the physiological and bidirectional connection between the microbiota, the intestinal barrier (IB), and the BBB. Preclinical observations reported a gut microbial alteration induced by pesticides, also known as dysbiosis, a condition associated not only with gastrointestinal disorders but also with diseases affecting other distal organs, such as the BBB. However, the interplay between pesticides, microbiota, the IB, and the BBB is still not fully explored. In this review, we first consider the similarities/differences between these two physiological barriers and the different pathways that link the gut microbiota and the BBB to better understand the dialogue between bacteria and the brain. We then discuss the effects of chronic oral pesticide exposure on the gut-microbiota-BBB axis and raise awareness of the danger of chronic exposure, especially during the perinatal period (pregnant women and offspring).