Kreuzer, KathrinKathrinKreuzerBirkl-Toeglhofer, Anna MariaAnna MariaBirkl-ToeglhoferHaybaeck, JohannesJohannesHaybaeckReiter, AlexandraAlexandraReiterDalkner, NinaNinaDalknerFellendorf, Frederike T.Frederike T.FellendorfMaget, AlexanderAlexanderMagetPlatzer, MartinaMartinaPlatzerSeidl, MatthiasMatthiasSeidlMendel, Lilli-MarieLilli-MarieMendelLenger, MelanieMelanieLengerBirner, ArminArminBirnerQueissner, RobertRobertQueissnerMairinger, MarcoMarcoMairingerObermayer, AnnaAnnaObermayerKohlhammer-Dohr, AlexandraAlexandraKohlhammer-DohrStross, Tatjana MariaTatjana MariaStrossHäussl, AlfredAlfredHäusslHamm, CarloCarloHammSchöggl, HelmutHelmutSchögglAmberger-Otti, DanielaDanielaAmberger-OttiPainold, AnnamariaAnnamariaPainoldLahousen-Luxenberger, TheresaTheresaLahousen-LuxenbergerLeitner-Afschar, BirgittaBirgittaLeitner-AfscharFärber, TanjaTanjaFärber0000-0003-4576-682XMörkl, SabrinaSabrinaMörklWagner-Skacel, JolanaJolanaWagner-SkacelMeier-Allard, NathalieNathalieMeier-AllardLackner, SonjaSonjaLacknerHolasek, SandraSandraHolasekHabisch, HansjörgHansjörgHabischMadl, TobiasTobiasMadlReininghaus, EvaEvaReininghausBengesser, Susanne AstridSusanne AstridBengesser2025-12-172025-12-172025https://fis.uni-bamberg.de/handle/uniba/110710Introduction: An increasing body of evidence suggests a strong relationship between gut health and mental state. Lately, a connection between butyrate-producing bacteria and sleep quality has been discussed. The PROVIT study, as a randomized, double-blind, 4-week, multispecies probiotic intervention study, aims at elucidating the potential interconnection between the gut’s metabolome and the molecular clock in individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: The aim of the PROVIT-CLOCK study was to analyze changes in core clock gene expression during treatment with probiotic intervention versus placebo in fasting blood and the connection with the serum- and stoolmetabolome in patients with MDD (n = 53). In addition to clinical assessments in the PROVIT study, metabolomics analyses with 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (stool and serum) and gene expression (RT-qPCR) analysis of the core clock genes ARNTL, PER3, CLOCK, TIMELESS, NR1D1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of fasting blood were performed. Results: The gene expression levels of the clock gene CLOCK were significantly altered only in individuals receiving probiotic add-on treatment. TIMELESS and ARNTL gene expression changed significantly over the 4-week intervention period in both groups. Various positive and negative correlations between metabolites in serum/stool and core clock gene expression levels were observed. Conclusion: Changing the gut microbiome by probiotic treatment potentially influences CLOCK gene expression. The preliminary results of the PROVIT-CLOCK study indicate a possible interconnection between the gut microbiome and circadian rhythm potentially orchestrated by metabolites.engMajor depressive disorderGut-brain axisCircadian clock genesRandomized controlled trial150articleurn:nbn:de:bvb:473-irb-110710x