Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40646629›Full record

Observational studyHuman genomics2025

Integrating gut microbiome and neuroplasticity genomics in alcohol use disorder therapy.

Ilias Koutromanos, Evangelia Legaki, Nikolas Dovrolis, Efthimios Vassilopoulos, Arthur Stem, Vasilis Vasiliou, Elias Tzavellas, Maria Gazouli

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Human genomics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Ilias KoutromanosFirst Department of Psychiatry, "Aiginition" Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528, Athens, Greece.
Evangelia LegakiLaboratory of Biology, Department of Basic Biological Science, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527, Athens, Greece.
Nikolas DovrolisLaboratory of Biology, Department of Basic Biological Science, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527, Athens, Greece.
Efthimios VassilopoulosFirst Department of Psychiatry, "Aiginition" Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528, Athens, Greece.
Arthur StemDepartment of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
Vasilis VasiliouDepartment of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
Elias TzavellasFirst Department of Psychiatry, "Aiginition" Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528, Athens, Greece. etzavell@med.uoa.gr.
Maria GazouliLaboratory of Biology, Department of Basic Biological Science, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527, Athens, Greece. mgazouli@med.uoa.gr.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAlcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a chronic neuropsychiatric condition with substantial public health impact. The interplay between gut microbiota and neuroplasticity-related genes presents a novel approach to understand AUD pathophysiology and treatment response. While microbial dysbiosis has been implicated in AUD, its correlation with gene expression changes in neuroplasticity pathways remains unexplored. This study investigates microbiome composition, microbial metabolic pathways, and their correlation with neuroplasticity-related genes in AUD patients undergoing treatment.

methodsWe conducted a prospective observational study integrating gut microbiome 16S rRNA sequencing and host neuroplasticity-related gene expression profiling in AUD patients undergoing treatment which combines psychotherapeutic intervention along with oral diazepam administration followed by Pythagorean Self Awareness Intervention. Patients were classified as responders or non-responders, and microbial composition, functional pathways, and host-microbiota interactions were analyzed using multi-omic correlation frameworks.

resultsResponders exhibited a microbiome enriched in short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria (e.g., Lachnospiraceae), linked to gut barrier integrity and neurotransmitter synthesis. In contrast, non-responders demonstrated enrichment of inflammation-associated taxa (Succinivibrionaceae) and oxidative stress-related metabolic pathways. Correlation analysis revealed microbiome-mediated modulation of neuroplasticity-related genes measured from peripheral blood, including BDNF, GRIA1, CAMK2G, and EGR family genes, suggesting a gut-brain-genomic axis in AUD treatment response.

conclusionsThis study highlights the role of gut microbiota as a modulator of neuroplasticity-related gene expression in AUD patients. Integrating microbiome and host genomic signatures could improve biomarker-based prediction of treatment response and inform precision medicine approaches for AUD. Future studies should expand these findings by incorporating multi-omic approaches, including epigenomics and exposomics, to refine microbiome-targeted interventions for addiction therapy.

Indexed as

AlcoholismGastrointestinal MicrobiomeGenomicsNeuronal PlasticityAdultDysbiosisFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesRNA, Ribosomal, 16SRNA, Ribosomal, 16SAlcohol use disorderExposomeGenomicsGut-brain axisGut microbiomeNeuroplasticityPrecision medicine

Identifiers

PMID40646629
PMCPMC12255058

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.