Intestinal permeability correlates with behavioural severity in very young children with ASD: A preliminary study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Immunology
• Genetics

Background:

• Systemic inflammation is linked to behavioral changes.
• Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit elevated circulating cytokines.
• Hypothesis: Systemic inflammation may exacerbate ASD-characteristic behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between systemic inflammation markers and behavioral severity in very young children with ASD.
• To quantify acute phase proteins and intestinal permeability markers in ASD plasma.
• To correlate these biological markers with behavioral assessments.

Main Methods:

• Plasma samples from very young children with ASD were analyzed.
• Quantified acute phase proteins (e.g., haptoglobin) and intestinal permeability markers (e.g., I-FABP).
• Assessed behavior severity using standardized tools: ADI-R, ADOS, and VABS.

Main Results:

• Increased circulating intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) correlated with more severe communication deficits, social interaction deficits, and maladaptive behaviors.
• The acute phase protein haptoglobin was associated with more severe social interaction and combined communication/social interaction deficits.
• I-FABP, a marker of intestinal epithelial damage, showed a significant association with behavioral phenotypes in young children with ASD.

Conclusions:

• Intestinal epithelial damage, indicated by I-FABP, is associated with more severe behavioral phenotypes in very young children with ASD.
• The acute phase protein haptoglobin also demonstrated associations with behavioral severity.
• Findings suggest a potential link between systemic inflammation, gut health, and ASD behavioral outcomes.