Host-microbiome relationship in depression: can human induced pluripotent stem cells play a role in unravelling mechanisms?

Cristina Rosell-Cardona; John F Cryan; Gerard Clarke; Sarah Kittel-Schneider

doi:10.1038/s41522-025-00749-z

Host-microbiome relationship in depression: can human induced pluripotent stem cells play a role in unravelling mechanisms?

NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes. 2025 Jul 1;11(1):117. doi: 10.1038/s41522-025-00749-z.

Authors

Cristina Rosell-Cardona¹, John F Cryan^{1

2}, Gerard Clarke^{1

3}, Sarah Kittel-Schneider^{4

5

6}

Affiliations

¹ APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
² Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
³ Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural Science, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
⁴ APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. skittelschneider@ucc.ie.
⁵ Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural Science, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. skittelschneider@ucc.ie.
⁶ Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany. skittelschneider@ucc.ie.

Abstract

Depression is highly prevalent, with many patients not responding to existing treatments. The gut microbiota plays a key role in its pathophysiology, offering new therapeutic avenues. Human-based research is essential to uncover mechanisms and validate new targets. Given CNS inaccessibility, human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) offer an innovative model. This review explores the emerging field of hiPSCs and their potential in advancing microbiota-gut-brain axis science and depression research.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Depression* / microbiology
Depression* / therapy
Gastrointestinal Microbiome* / physiology
Host Microbial Interactions*
Humans
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells* / physiology

Grants and funding

101034270/INSPIRE COFUND Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant