What holds the clue between microbiome and autism might be a molecule produced by the immune system called interleukin-17a, or IL-17a.
Study identifies possible connection to autism development, a molecule produced by the immune system called interleukin-17a, or IL-17a.
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So far, research showed that this cytokine plays a role in diseases such as psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis, and is vital in defending the body against fungal infections. However, it also appears to influence brain development in the womb.
Scientists performed the research on mice with different gut microbiota. While one group had bacteria linked to a stronger inflammatory response triggered by IL-17a, the control group did not.
When they supressed IL-17a artificially at the pups, both groups displayed neurotypical behavior, but later on, when the human interference stopped and the mice grew naturally, those of the first group showed symptoms typical of autism, such as repetitive behavior
