Science
Related: About this forumStudies help explain link between autism, severe infection during pregnancy
Last edited Wed Sep 20, 2017, 03:16 AM - Edit history (1)
http://www.koreadailyus.com/korean-american-professor-couple-identify-major-cause-autism/The couple found that certain bacteria in the mothers digestive tract can lead to having an autistic child. Furthermore, they found the exact brain location linked to autistic behaviors, which can be used to find a cure for autism.
Science journal Nature published the couples two research studies on the 14th. The couple are Harvard Medical Schools professor Huh Jun-ryeol, and MITs professor Gloria Choi.
The studies vividly explain the detailed process of a pregnant mouse, which is infected by a virus, having offspring that shows autistic behaviors.
The researchers found out that certain bacteria in the mothers digestive tract can develop immune cells that directly influence the babys brain cells development. When the researchers removed the bacteria with antibiotics, the mouse had a normal baby mouse.
From MIT:
When the researchers restored normal levels of brain activity in this area, they were able to reverse the behavioral abnormalities. They were also able to induce the behaviors in otherwise normal mice by overstimulating neurons in S1DZ.
The researchers also discovered that S1DZ sends messages to two other brain regions: the temporal association area of the cortex and the striatum. When the researchers inhibited the neurons connected to the temporal association area, they were able to reverse the sociability deficits. When they inhibited the neurons connected to the striatum, they were able to halt the repetitive behaviors..
EDIT: Changed original OP title to headline from MIT.
unblock
(52,212 posts)Xipe Totec
(43,890 posts)Igel
(35,300 posts)Loki Liesmith
(4,602 posts)JHan
(10,173 posts)This is most telling from the MIT link:
A 2010 study that included all children born in Denmark between 1980 and 2005 found that severe viral infections during the first trimester of pregnancy translated to a threefold risk for autism, and serious bacterial infections during the second trimester were linked with a 1.42-fold increase in risk. These infections included influenza, viral gastroenteritis, and severe urinary tract infections.
Similar effects have been described in mouse models of maternal inflammation, and in a 2016 Science paper, Choi and Huh found that a type of immune cells known as Th17 cells, and their effector molecule, called IL-17, are responsible for this effect in mice. IL-17 then interacts with receptors found on brain cells in the developing fetus, leading to irregularities that the researchers call patches in certain parts of the cortex.
Loki Liesmith
(4,602 posts)My grad work was in neuroscience and in the late 90s everybody had a mouse model of any behavioral syndrome you'd imagine. Most came to nothing...
But obviously we need to investigate it more.
JHan
(10,173 posts)I really really hope more studies bear fruit on this, and give way to some kind of cure ( which might probably be preventative) but I'm getting ahead of myself.
FM123
(10,053 posts)Bernardo de La Paz
(49,001 posts)Proprioception: Autistic people are often very sensitive to touch. On the other hand, some are calmed by pressure. See the work of Temple Grandin and the hug machine.
Sociability deficits
Repetitive behaviors: Such as rocking back and forth.
All very interesting. Thank you for posting!
mrs_p
(3,014 posts)With saying they "proved" the cause of autism. Interesting findings and I would be interested in seeing the results of similar research, but science doesn't "prove" anything. The data we scientists generate lend evidence for or against an hypothesis or hypotheses.
I know I am being picky here, but it is one of my pet peeves and distracts from the rest of the article (for me).
JHan
(10,173 posts)The research is really compelling though.
FakeNoose
(32,639 posts)The MIT source uses this headline:
"Studies help explain link between autism, severe infection during pregnancy."
And it's basically the same story, but they aren't suggesting that it has been proven yet.
Still this is ground-breaking work and I'm happy to see it posted here.
mrs_p
(3,014 posts)Article for sure.