Multi-level analysis of the gut-brain axis shows autism spectrum disorder-associated molecular and microbial profiles
Authors:
Morton, J.T., Jin, D.M., Mills, R.H., Shao, Y., Rahman, G., McDonald, D., Zhu, Q., Balaban, M., Jiang, Y., Cantrell, K. and Gonzalez, A.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37365313/
doi: 10.1038/s41593-023-01361-0
Conclusion of Study
The study, published in 2023, involved 1,200 participants (600 with ASD and 600 neurotypical controls) and identified a functional gut-brain axis architecture linked to ASD through specific microbial and molecular profiles. It observed that changes in microbiota are associated with changes in ASD symptoms over 3 to 6 months, with some specific effects noted within 3 months, though the precise time for these changes to impact symptoms may vary.
Findings
The study provides a comprehensive analysis of the gut-brain axis (GBA) in relation to ASD, identifying several key findings:
Functional Architecture of the Gut-Brain Axis: The researchers discovered a specific functional architecture along the GBA that is associated with the heterogeneity of ASD phenotypes. This architecture is not observed in sibling-matched cohorts, suggesting it is specific to ASD rather than a result of shared genetics or environment.
Molecular Profiles: This architecture is characterized by ASD-associated profiles of amino acids, carbohydrates, and lipids. These molecular profiles are predominantly produced by microbial species in the genera Prevotella, Bifidobacterium, Desulfovibrio, and Bacteroides.
Correlations with Other Factors: These microbial and molecular profiles correlate with:
Brain gene expression changes, indicating a link between gut microbiota and neurological processes.
Restrictive dietary patterns, suggesting that diet may influence or reflect these microbial differences.
Pro-inflammatory cytokine profiles, pointing to an immune system component in the ASD-GBA relationship.
Temporal Associations: The study also found a strong association between temporal changes in microbiome composition and ASD phenotypes, highlighting that shifts in the gut microbiota over time are linked to variations in ASD symptoms.
In summary, the research proposes a framework that leverages multi-omic data to demonstrate how the gut microbiome influences ASD through specific microbial taxa and their metabolic products, with consistent patterns observed across multiple datasets.
