https://www.nature.com

Chronic stress can inflame the gut — now scientists know why

  • NEWS
  • 25 May 2023

Signals originating in the brain make their way to gut nerve cells, leading to a release of inflammatory chemicals.

By

  1. Saima Sidik

View author publications

You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Psychological stress is known to worsen the gut inflammation caused by certain bowel diseases. Now scientists have found out why. New research1 outlines a sweeping narrative that begins with chemical cues produced in the brain and ends with immune cells in the gut — a sequence that spells trouble for people with these conditions.

Access options

Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals

Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription

24,99 € / 30 days

cancel any time

Learn more

Subscribe to this journal

Receive 51 print issues and online access

199,00 € per year

only 3,90 € per issue

Learn more

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Additional access options:

Nature 618, 221-222 (2023)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-01700-y

References

  1. Schneider, K. M. et al. Cell https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2023.05.001 (2023).

Article Google Scholar

Download references

Reprints and permissions

Related Articles

Subjects

Latest on:

[Innate immunity in neurons makes memories persist
Innate immunity in neurons makes memories persist

News & Views27 MAR 24](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00679-4)[![Formation of memory assemblies through the DNA-sensing TLR9 pathway](https://media.nature.com/w140h79/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1038%2Fs41586-024-07220-7/MediaObjects/41586_2024_7220_Fig1_HTML.png)\ Formation of memory assemblies through the DNA-sensing TLR9 pathway

Article27 MAR 24](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07220-7)[![A brainstem–hypothalamus neuronal circuit reduces feeding upon heat exposure](https://media.nature.com/w140h79/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1038%2Fs41586-024-07232-3/MediaObjects/41586_2024_7232_Fig1_HTML.png)\ A brainstem–hypothalamus neuronal circuit reduces feeding upon heat exposure

Article27 MAR 24](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07232-3)

[Video: Cancer-busting vaccines
Video: Cancer-busting vaccines

Outline27 MAR 24](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00842-x)[![Cancer-vaccine trials give reasons for optimism](https://images.nature.com/w140h79/magazine-assets/d41586-024-00840-z/d41586-024-00840-z_26871262.jpg)\ Cancer-vaccine trials give reasons for optimism

Outline27 MAR 24](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00840-z)[![How does a cancer vaccine work?](https://images.nature.com/w140h79/magazine-assets/d41586-024-00841-y/d41586-024-00841-y_26871318.jpg)\ How does a cancer vaccine work?

Outline27 MAR 24](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00841-y)

[Innate immunity in neurons makes memories persist
Innate immunity in neurons makes memories persist

News & Views27 MAR 24](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00679-4)[![Memories are made by breaking DNA — and fixing it](https://images.nature.com/w140h79/magazine-assets/d41586-024-00930-y/d41586-024-00930-y_26894036.jpg)\ Memories are made by breaking DNA — and fixing it

News27 MAR 24](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00930-y)[![Ketamine is in the spotlight thanks to Elon Musk — but is it the right treatment for depression?](https://images.nature.com/w140h79/magazine-assets/d41586-024-00852-9/d41586-024-00852-9_26881476.jpg)\ Ketamine is in the spotlight thanks to Elon Musk — but is it the right treatment for depression?

News Explainer20 MAR 24](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00852-9)

Nature Careers

Jobs

Join Us and Create a Bright Future Together!

Shanghai, China

East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST)

National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS, Japan) calls for outstanding researchers who can drive world-class research in materials science.

Tsukuba, Japan (JP)

National Institute for Materials Science

To develop an innovative and internationally competitive research program, to contribute to educational activities and to provide expert advice.

Belgium (BE)

Institute of Tropical Medicine

We search the candidate for the subproject "P2: targeting cardiac macrophages" as part of the DFG-funded Research Training Group "GRK 2989: Targeti...

Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen (DE)

Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften – ISAS – e.V.

At our location in Dortmund we invite applications for a DFG-funded project. This project will aim to structurally and spatially resolve the altere...

Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen (DE)

Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften – ISAS – e.V.