Related Effects of Methamphetamine on the Intestinal Barrier via Cytokines, and Potential Mechanisms by Which Methamphetamine May Occur on the Brain-Gut Axis

Abstract

Methamphetamine (METH) is an illegal drug widely abused in many countries. Methamphetamine abuse is a major health and social problem all over the world. However, the effects of METH on the digestive system have rarely been reported. Previous studies and clinical cases have shown that METH use can lead to the impaired intestinal barrier function and severe digestive diseases. METH can cause multiple organ dysfunction, especially in the central nervous system (CNS). The gut microbiota are involved in the development of various CNS-related diseases via the gut-brain axis (GBA). Here, we describe the related effects of METH on the intestinal barrier via cytokines and the underlying mechanisms by which METH may occur in the brain-gut axis.