News & Current Events: Study Suggests Key Link That Could Help Explain Autism Development
The role of gut microbiota in human health has become increasingly evident in recent years. Research has shown it can influence everything from mental health and weight to autoimmune disorders like lupus and type 1 diabetes.
A new study published in The Journal of Immunology highlights a potential connection between gut microbiota and autism development. Interestingly, researchers at the University of Virginia found that a mother’s microbiota may play a greater role in shaping her child’s risk than the child’s own microbiome.
“The microbiome is really important to the calibration of how the offspring’s immune system is going to respond to infection or stress,” explained lead researcher John Lukens.
Central to this study is the molecule interleukin-17a (IL-17a). Already associated with conditions such as psoriasis and multiple sclerosis, IL-17a also influences brain development in the womb. In mouse experiments, suppressing IL-17a prevented autism-like behaviors in offspring. However, when mothers carried microbiota that heightened inflammatory responses, pups developed traits resembling autism.
Though early, this research suggests maternal gut health could significantly affect neurodevelopment, offering new directions for autism studies and potential interventions.
