Part 9/15:
A central theme is the pivotal role of the gut-brain axis as the keystone in chronic inflammatory diseases. The microbiome’s composition and function influence mucosal barrier integrity, immune responses, and central nervous system signaling. Microbial dysbiosis and increased gut permeability ("leaky gut") lead to systemic exposure to microbial products like lipopolysaccharides (LPS), activating toll-like receptors on immune cells, and heightened cytokine production.