UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

Gut microbial GABA imbalance emerges as a metabolic signature in mild autism spectrum disorder linked to overrepresented Escherichia

Wang, D; Jiang, Y; Jiang, J; Pan, Y; Yang, Y; Fang, X; Liang, L; ... Li, N; + view all (2025) Gut microbial GABA imbalance emerges as a metabolic signature in mild autism spectrum disorder linked to overrepresented Escherichia. Cell Reports Medicine , 6 (1) , Article 101919. 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101919. Green open access

[thumbnail of ASD.pdf]
Preview
Text
ASD.pdf - Published Version

Download (5MB) | Preview

Abstract

Gut microbiota (GM) alterations have been implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), yet the specific functional architecture remains elusive. Here, employing multi-omics approaches, we investigate stool samples from two distinct cohorts comprising 203 children with mild ASD or typical development. In our screening cohort, regression-based analysis for metabolomic profiling identifies an elevated γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) to glutamate (Glu) ratio as a metabolic signature of ASD, independent of age and gender. In the validating cohort, we affirm the GABA/Glu ratio as an ASD diagnostic indicator after adjusting for geography, age, gender, and specific food-consuming frequency. Integrated analysis of metabolomics, 16S rRNA sequencing, and metagenomics reveals a correlation between overrepresented Escherichia and disrupted GABA metabolism. Furthermore, we observe social behavioral impairments in weaning mice transplanted with E. coli, suggesting a potential link to ASD symptomatology. Collectively, these findings provide insights into potential diagnostic and therapeutic strategies aimed at evaluating and restoring gut microbial neurotransmitter homeostasis.

Type: Article
Title: Gut microbial GABA imbalance emerges as a metabolic signature in mild autism spectrum disorder linked to overrepresented Escherichia
Location: United States
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101919
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101919
Language: English
Additional information: This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Keywords: Autism; gut microbiota; multi-omics; metabolome; γ-aminobutyric acid; glutamate; neurotransmitter homeostasis; gut-brain axis; diagnostic biomarker; Escherichia
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Medicine
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Medicine > Wolfson Inst for Biomedical Research
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10204224
Downloads since deposit
14Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item