Research progress on the mechanisms and intervention strategies of microbiota-gut-brain axis dysfunction under heat stress

Heat stress (HS), as an important environmental stressor in the context of global warming, profoundly affects body health by disrupting the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis (MGBA). This review provides a critical synthesis of the mechanisms underlying MGBA disruption under HS. HS initially induces gut microbiota imbalance, which subsequently disrupts the intestinal mechanical and immune barriers, thereby interfering with the bidirectional gut-brain signaling mediated by pathways such as the vagus nerve. Based on the above mechanisms, this review further explores MGBA-centered therapeutic strategies, including microbiota-oriented therapies such as probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation to reshape gut ecology, as well as the use of metabolites for targeted therapy. Finally, this article looks forward to future research directions in this field, emphasizing the exploration of molecular mechanisms and the search for key targets.