肠道微生物,小鼠自闭症 z-bo 2020-11-23 312

　　A new study in the United States shows that gut microbes can affect and promote autism-like behavior in mice, changing their metabolic status and gene expression in the brain. This research provides new clues for the treatment of human autism. Intestinal probiotics may appear on the autism prescription list one day in the future.

　　Intestinal microbes are very important to humans. They live in symbiosis with the human body and affect our metabolism and immune system. In the new study, in order to understand the role of gut microbes in the behavior of mice with autism, a research team composed of researchers from California Institute of Technology, Arizona State University and other institutions transplanted gut microbes from children with autism into the laboratory In the cultured "sterile" mice, the gut microbes of non-autistic children were transplanted into control mice for comparative observation and analysis. Researchers found that after transplanting the gut microbes of children with autism, the mice became quiet, their interaction time with other mice was significantly reduced, and they often performed repetitive behaviors. These are the typical symptoms of humans with autism. Those mice transplanted with gut microbes from normally developing children did not show these symptoms.

　　In addition to the differences in behavior, mice transplanted with gut microbes in children with autism also differ in brain gene expression and types of metabolites, especially the two metabolites of 5-aminovaleric acid (5AV) and taurine in their bodies. The amount is relatively low. Both of these substances affect GABA receptors, which in turn affect the excitability of neurons in the brain. Further studies have shown that using these two substances to treat autistic mice will reduce their autism-like behavior.

　　The researchers pointed out that the new study reveals the role played by the gut microbiota in the neurological changes associated with autism, providing new clues for the future treatment of this disease. Perhaps one day doctors will use bacterial metabolites or probiotics. Bacteria drugs to reduce the patient’s autism symptoms. At the same time, the researchers emphasized that although the new study shows that gut microbes can promote autism-like behavior in mice, it does not indicate that gut microbes can cause autism. Compared with mice, human autism research requires It is much more complicated. To fully understand the impact of intestinal microbes on the human body, more research is needed.