Gut microbiota changes in patients with autism spectrum disorders

Xue Ding; Yiran Xu; Xiaoli Zhang; Lingling Zhang; Guiqin Duan; Chunlan Song; Zhenghua Li; Yanyan Yang; Yazhe Wang; Xiaoyang Wang; Changlian Zhu

doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.06.032

Gut microbiota changes in patients with autism spectrum disorders

J Psychiatr Res. 2020 Oct:129:149-159. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.06.032. Epub 2020 Jul 18.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Henan Key Laboratory of Child Brain Injury, Third Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Neuroscience of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
² Henan Key Laboratory of Child Brain Injury, Third Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Neuroscience of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China. Electronic address: yiran.xu@neurozzu.cn.
³ Child Psychology and Behavior Center, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
⁴ Henan Key Laboratory of Child Brain Injury, Third Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Neuroscience of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China; Center of Perinatal Medicine and Health, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, 40530, Sweden.
⁵ Henan Key Laboratory of Child Brain Injury, Third Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Neuroscience of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China; Center for Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, 40530, Sweden; Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, 17176, Sweden. Electronic address: changlian.zhu@neuro.gu.se.

PMID: 32912596
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.06.032

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has a high incidence of intestinal comorbidity, indicating a strong association with gut microbiota. The purpose of this study was to characterize gut microbiota profiles in children with ASD. Seventy-seven children with ASD [33 with mild ASD and 44 with severe ASD according to the Childhood Autism Rating Scale score] and 50 age-matched healthy children were enrolled. Compared with children in the healthy control (HC) group, those in the ASD group showed higher biomass, richness, and biodiversity of gut microbiota, and an altered microbial community structure. At the genus level, there was a significant increase in the relative abundance of unidentified Lachnospiraceae, Clostridiales, Erysipelotrichaceae, Dorea, Collinsella, and Lachnoclostridium, whereas Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium, Parasutterella, and Paraprevotella were significantly lower in the ASD group than in the control group. The presence of unidentified Erysipelotrichaceae, Faecalibacterium, and Lachnospiraceae was positively correlated with ASD severity. Notably, three microbial markers (Faecalitalea, Caproiciproducens and Collinsella) were identified in a random forest model with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.94 for differentiation between HCs and ASD patients. Furthermore, the validation model was consistent with the discovery set (AUC = 0.98, 95% CI: 97.9%-100%). The training and testing sets were more effective when the number of bacteria was increased. In addition, the functional properties (such as galactose metabolism, glycosyltransferase activity, and glutathione metabolism) displayed significant differences between the ASD and HC groups. The current study provides evidence for the relationship between gut microbiota and ASD, with the findings suggesting that gut microbiota could contribute to symptomology. Thus, modulation of gut microbiota may be a new therapeutic strategy for ASD.

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Diagnosis; Gut microbiota; Gut-brain axis.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Autism Spectrum Disorder*
Bacteria
Biomarkers
Child
Gastrointestinal Microbiome*
Humans
Microbiota*

Substances

Biomarkers