Psychological stress is known to worsen the gut inflammation caused by certain bowel diseases. Now scientists have found out why. New research 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.
Stressful events, such as losing one’s job or breaking up with a partner, often precede IBD flare-ups. [Christoph] Thaiss and his colleagues have now traced that linkage. After a surge of stress, the brain sends signals to the adrenal glands, which release chemicals called glucocorticoids to the rest of the body.
The researchers were surprised to learn that glucocorticoids cause gut inflammation, because these compounds are sometimes used to treat IBD. This apparent paradox might be explained by the short time frame on which such treatments are used. Although quick bursts of glucocorticoids seem to be anti-inflammatory, when stress becomes chronic, “the system completely shifts” and glucocorticoids take on a pro-inflammatory role, Thaiss says.
