From Oxidative Stress to Immune Modulation: Targeting TLR, NLR, and MAPK Pathways with Probiotics in Schizophrenia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53469/wjimt.2026.09(05).05Keywords:
Probiotics, Schizophrenia, Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, Immune Regulation, TLR/NLR/MAPK Pathways, Gut Brain Axis, Adjunctive TherapyAbstract
While existing reviews have broadly addressed the gut–brain axis in schizophrenia, the specific roles of oxidative stress, inflammation, and immune signaling cascades are rarely examined in an integrated manner. This review adopts a pathwaycentered perspective to bridge that gap. Emerging evidence suggests that probiotics can ameliorate schizophrenia symptoms by counteracting oxidative stress, reducing systemic inflammation, and restoring immune homeostasis. We delineate how these three pathological layers are sequentially linked—oxidative damage triggering inflammation, which in turn drives innate and adaptive immune overactivation—and highlight TLR, NLR, and MAPK signaling as key molecular targets of probiotic intervention. Clinical studies, though still limited, indicate that adjunctive probiotics may lower serum inflammatory markers and improve psychiatric outcomes. We further discuss the implications for individualized strain selection and the integration of probiotics into multimodal treatment frameworks. By providing a mechanistic scaffold for the immunomodulatory effects of probiotics, this review aims to inform future translational research and precision probiotic strategies in schizophrenia.
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