L. johnsonii alleviates methamphetamine craving via the metabolism of tyrosine.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Methamphetamine (MA) abuse is a global public problem and methamphetamine addiction lacks of effective treatment. The gut microbes, involved in the gut-brain axis, remotely regulate methamphetamine addiction.

Results

In this study, we identified that Lactobacillus johnsonii (L. johnsonii) is involved in the metabolism of tyrosine. MA addiction disrupts the balance of gut microbes, reducing the abundance of L. johnsonii, destroying intestinal barrier integrity, and increasing the tyrosine level. The outbreak of tyrosine promotes a greater craving for MA in mice since it transfers from the intestine to VTA and NAc to promote microglia immune reactivity, which reduces energy supply to neurons and decreases presynaptic mitochondria in dopaminergic neurons. As a conseq

SUBMITTER: Zhang R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12776994 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature