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An artist concept of intestinal bacteria. A new Caltech study reveals that intestinal bacteria could influence and contribute to autism-like symptoms in mouse models. ( Caltech )
According to new research, intestinal bacteria could contribute to the symptoms of autism, which would help to better understand the potential causes of the disease.
The study focused on mice, but if this is proven in humans, this new knowledge could pave the way for treatments for ASD that concern the intestine rather than the brain, such as the probiotics.
Intestinal bacteria and symptoms of autism
In an article published in the journal Cellresearchers at the California Institute of Technology support the theory that there is a link between intestinal bacteria and autism.
Sarkis Mazmanian, author of the study and professor of microbiology Luis B. and Nelly Soux of Caltech, explained in a press release that previous studies had highlighted differences between intestinal bacteria of individuals with ASD and those who did not have one. However, scientists have not been able to determine whether changes in the microbiome are an effect of ASD or whether it is the opposite, and whether these changes contribute to ASD symptoms.
The new study shows that intestinal bacteria could cause symptoms similar to those of autism in mice.
"However, these findings do not indicate that intestinal microbes cause autism," said author of the study, Gil Sharon, adding that additional research was needed to treat effects of intestinal bacteria in humans.
Experimentation with mouse models
For their research, the authors used mice that were not exposed to microorganisms. One group of these "germ-free" mice received intestinal microorganisms from children with autism via a stool transplant, while another group was grafted with intestinal microorganisms from individuals not autistic.
The results showed that mice that received the microbiota from people with ASD exhibited symptoms similar to those of autism, including spending less time interacting with other mice, unless vocalizing and adopting repetitive behavior Mice to which the microbiota had been administered by persons without ASD did not exhibit the same symptoms.
In addition to behavioral changes, mice with the microbiota of people with ASD had altered gene expression in their brains, as well as smaller amounts of two metabolites also badociated with symptoms of ASD called 5AV and taurine.
The team attempted to treat the mice with 5AV and taurine, which resulted in a decrease in autism-like behaviors.
Mazmanian and his team have recognized that many factors make autism more complicated than mice in humans, but their research provides valuable clues about how the intestinal bacteria influences changes neurons badociated with ASD.
"This suggests that the symptoms of ASD may one day be treated with bacterial metabolites or a probiotic drug," Mazmanian said. "In addition, this opens up the possibility that ASDs, and perhaps other clbadical neurological conditions, may be treated by therapies that target the intestine rather than the brain, an approach apparently easier to treat. . "
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