Gut/Autism Report for & all

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Another FEAT article, as promised:

Study Lends Support to Leaky Gut Theory of Autism

" This is consistent with increasing evidence for gut

epithelial dysfunction in autism " - Dr. Simon Murch

A Distinct Lymphocytic Colitis With Epithelial Damage In Autistic

Children Researchers have confirmed a distinct lymphocytic colitis in

autistic spectrum disorders in which the epithelium appears

particularly affected, and have reported their findings in March's

Journal of Pediatrics.

A team from the Royal Free and University College School of Medicine

and St Mark's Hospital, London, England investigated the

characteristics of colitis with ileal lymphoid nodular hyperplasia

(LNH) in children, and determined whether LNH was specific for autism.

Ileo-colonoscopy was performed in 21 consecutively evaluated children

with autistic spectrum disorders and bowel symptoms.

Blinded comparison was made with 8 children with histologically normal

ileum and colon, 10 developmentally-normal children with ileal LNH,

15 with Crohn's disease, and 14 with ulcerative colitis.

The researchers performed immunohistochemistry for cell lineage and

functional markers, and histochemistry for glycosaminoglycans and

basement membrane thickness.

Histology demonstrated lymphocytic colitis in the autistic children,

less severe than classical inflammatory bowel disease. However,

basement membrane thickness and mucosal cell density were

significantly increased above those of all other groups, including

patients with inflammatory bowel disease. CD8+density and

entraepithelial lymphocyte numbers were higher than

those in the Crohn's disease, LNH, and normal control groups; and CD3

and plasma cell density and crypt proliferation were higher than

those in normal and LNH control groups. Epithelial, but not lamina

propria, glycosaminoglycans were disrupted. However, the epithelium

was HLA-DR-, suggesting a predominantly TH2 response.

Dr Simon Murch said on behalf of the group, " Immunohistochemistry

confirms a distinct lymphocytic colitis in autistic spectrum

disorders, in which the epithelium appears particularly affected.

This is consistent with increasing evidence for gut epithelial

dysfunction in autism. "

In an accompanying Editorial Perspective, F. Balistreri

comments, " This seems to point to gut epithelial dysfunction leading

to altered permeability and subsequent entry of central nervous

system-altering substances.

" It follows that treatment of the gut disease may affect the CNS

disease. "