Emerging Roles for the Gut Microbiome in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a serious neurodevelopmental disorder that affects one in 45 children in the United States, with a similarly striking prevalence in countries around the world. However, mechanisms underlying its etiology and manifestations remain poorly understood. While ASD is diagnosed based on the presence and severity of impaired social communication and repetitive behavior, immune dysregulation and gastrointestinal issues are common co-morbidities. The microbiome is an integral part of human physiology; recent studies show that changes in the gut microbiota can modulate gastrointestinal physiology, immune function and even behavior. Links between particular bacteria from the indigenous gut microbiota and phenotypes relevant to ASD raise the important question of whether microbial dysbiosis plays a role in the development or presentation of ASD symptoms. Here we review reports of microbial dysbiosis in ASD. We further discuss potential effects of the microbiota on ASD-associated symptoms, drawing upon signaling mechanisms for reciprocal interactions between the microbiota, immunity, gut function and behavior. In addition, we discuss recent findings supporting a role for the microbiome as an interface between environmental and genetic risk factors that are associated with ASD. These studies highlight the integration of pathways across multiple body systems that together can impact brain and behavior and suggest that changes in the microbiome may contribute to symptoms of neurodevelopmental disease.

The Microbiota, the Gut and the Brain in Eating and Alcohol Use Disorders: A ‘Ménage à Trois’?

“…Given existing evidence, it is possible these mechanisms occur simultaneously and complement each other, but this must be confirmed in targeted studies. Treatments to improve intestinal integrity and modify serum metabolites are possible intervention strategies that should be investigated, as has been proposed for treatment of autistic behavior and related gut microbial dysregulation (Vuong and Hsiao, 2016). Finally, recent evidence suggests that the gut microbiota may influence host appetite via both short-term, local effects, and long-term changes (Breton et al, 2016b).…”

A comparative study on medical comorbidities among children with autism spectrum disorder and controls in a children’s hospital

“…Studies have shown an association between gastrointestinal disorders such as gastroenteritis and inflammatory bowel disease and ASD 3,4 . More recent studies have focused on a role of gut microbiome in the aetiology of ASD and related gastrointestinal disorders 11 . On the contrary, however, large studies have not supported the long standing belief, based mainly on case reports, about the link between inflammatory bowel disease such as coeliac disease and ASD 12 .…”

A Current Approach to Microbiota: Autism and Microbiota

“…Otizmli bireylerde bağışıklık sisteminde bozulmalar mevcut olmakla birlikte, çeşitli lökosit tiplerinin yanıt oluşturma veya dağılımında bozukluklar, beyin sitokinleri, kemokinler ve diğer inflamatuar faktör-lerin dolaşımında değişiklikler görülmektedir. 15 Gül…”