Differential immune responses and microbiota profiles in children with autism spectrum disorders and co-morbid gastrointestinal symptoms

Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms produced increased levels of specific immune system molecules compared to those without GI symptoms.

• Following TLR-4 stimulation, children with ASD and GI symptoms showed increased production of mucosa-relevant cytokines such as IL-5, IL-15, and IL-17.
• The regulatory cytokine TGFβ1 was found to be decreased in children with ASD and GI symptoms compared to both children with ASD without GI symptoms and typically developing children.
• Differences in microbiome composition were observed between children with ASD and typically developing children who had GI symptoms.
• Predictive analysis indicated that functional pathways within the microbiome were differentially represented between ASD and typically developing subjects, regardless of GI symptoms.
• Children with ASD and GI symptoms exhibited an over-representation of the gene encoding zonulin, which is associated with gut permeability.

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