Cited by 141Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchFatty Acid Research and HealthGut microbiota and health

Neuroinflammation in Autism: Plausible Role of Maternal Inflammation, Dietary Omega 3, and Microbiota

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Madore, Charlotte, Leyrolle, Quentin, Lacabanne, Chloé, Benmamar-Badel, Anouk, Joffre, Corinne, Nadjar, Agnes, Layé, Sophie·2016·Neural Plasticity

Abstract

Several genetic causes of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been identified. However, more recent work has highlighted that certain environmental exposures early in life may also account for some cases of autism. Environmental insults during pregnancy, such as infection or malnutrition, seem to dramatically impact brain development. Maternal viral or bacterial infections have been characterized as disruptors of brain shaping, even if their underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Poor nutritional diversity, as well as nutrient deficiency, is strongly associated with neurodevelopmental disorders in children. For instance, imbalanced levels of essential fatty acids, and especially polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), are observed in patients with ASD and other neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and schizophrenia). Interestingly, PUFAs, and specifically n-3 PUFAs, are powerful immunomodulators that exert anti-inflammatory properties. These prenatal dietary and immunologic factors not only impact the fetal brain, but also affect the microbiota. Recent work suggests that the microbiota could be the missing link between environmental insults in prenatal life and future neurodevelopmental disorders. As both nutrition and inflammation can massively affect the microbiota, we discuss here how understanding the crosstalk between these three actors could provide a promising framework to better elucidate ASD etiology.

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  • Astrocytes regulate levels of GABA and glutamate by facilitating their reabsorption.

    “Additionally, astrocytes regulate levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate by facilitating their reabsorption.”
  • Brain inflammation caused by these disruptions can lead to abnormal synapse function and stimulate the release of vasopressin, a biomarker of ASD known to affect social behavior.

    “Brain inflammation caused by these disruptions can lead to abnormal synapse function and stimulate the release of vasopressin, a biomarker of ASD known to affect social behavior [79].”
  • PET imaging and post-mortem studies revealed enhanced microglial activation in autistic people, suggesting brain inflammation.

    “Both PET imaging and post-mortem studies revealed enhanced microglial activation in autistic people suggesting the presence of inflammation in the brain [226,256]”

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Authors
Madore, C., Leyrolle, Q., Lacabanne, C., Benmamar-Badel, A., Joffre, C., Nadjar, A., & Layé, S.
Affiliations
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
  • Université de Bordeaux (FR)
  • Nutrition et Neurobiologie Intégrée, UMR 1286, INRA, 33000 Bordeaux, France
Corresponding author
Layé, Sophie
Venue
Neural Plasticity
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2016
Volume
2016
Pages
1-15
ISSN
  • 1687-5443 (ISSN-L)
  • 2090-5904
OpenAlex
W2539340515
Cited by
141
References
199
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 7
FWCI
1.26
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Neural Plasticity (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Oskar-Bordeaux (Universite de Bordeaux) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard (DASH) (Harvard University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • HAL (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique
  • Université de Bordeaux
  • Agence Nationale de la Recherche
  • Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale
  • Cerebral Palsy Foundation
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Fatty Acid Research and Health
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
Keywords
autism spectrum disorder, neuroinflammation, maternal infection, prenatal inflammation, maternal malnutrition, omega-3 fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, gut microbiota, prenatal nutrition, brain development, environmental risk factors, neurodevelopmental disorders, maternal diet
MeSH terms
Autism Spectrum Disorder, Animals, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Autistic Disorder, Child Development Disorders, Pervasive, Humans, Nutritional Status, Fatty Acids, Omega-3, Microbiota

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