Cited by 139Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchCongenital gastrointestinal and neural anomaliesGastrointestinal motility and disorders

Serotonin transporter variant drives preventable gastrointestinal abnormalities in development and function

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Margolis, Kara Gross, Li, Zhishan, Stevanovic, Korey, Saurman, Virginia, Israelyan, Narek, Anderson, George M., Snyder, Isaac, Veenstra-VanderWeele, Jeremy +2 more·2016·Journal of Clinical Investigation

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an increasingly common behavioral condition that frequently presents with gastrointestinal (GI) disturbances. It is not clear, however, how gut dysfunction relates to core ASD features. Multiple, rare hyperfunctional coding variants of the serotonin (5-HT) transporter (SERT, encoded by SLC6A4) have been identified in ASD. Expression of the most common SERT variant (Ala56) in mice increases 5-HT clearance and causes ASD-like behaviors. Here, we demonstrated that Ala56-expressing mice display GI defects that resemble those seen in mice lacking neuronal 5-HT. These defects included enteric nervous system hypoplasia, slow GI transit, diminished peristaltic reflex activity, and proliferation of crypt epithelial cells. An opposite phenotype was seen in SERT-deficient mice and in progeny of WT dams given the SERT antagonist fluoxetine. The reciprocal phenotypes that resulted from increased or decreased SERT activity support the idea that 5-HT signaling regulates enteric neuronal development and can, when disturbed, cause long-lasting abnormalities of GI function. Administration of a 5-HT4 agonist to Ala56 mice during development prevented Ala56-associated GI perturbations, suggesting that excessive SERT activity leads to inadequate 5-HT4-mediated neurogenesis. We propose that deficient 5-HT signaling during development may contribute to GI and behavioral features of ASD. The consequences of therapies targeting SERT during pregnancy warrant further evaluation.

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  • Murine models with SERT abnormalities during development, such as SERT knockout mice and mice receiving SSRIs during pregnancy and breastfeeding, exhibit ENS hyperplasia and long-lasting deficits in ENS-mediated functions, including in vivo and in vitro GI motility.

    “Murine models possessing abnormalities in SERT during development, such as SERT knockout mice, as well as mice that receive selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors during pregnancy and breastfeeding, exhibit ENS hyperplasia as well as long-lasting deficits in ENS-mediated functions, including in vivo and in vitro gastrointestinal motility [33].”
  • The increase in EC cells and Tph1 transcripts in SERT Ala56 mice may contribute to their increased whole blood 5-HT levels.

    “both of which may be contributory to the demonstrated increase in whole blood 5-HT levels [33].”
  • SERT Ala56 mice have abnormally slowed in vivo and in vitro motility throughout the entire intestine, including a decrease in the frequency and speed of colonic peristaltic contractions.

    “As a consequence of abnormal ENS development, SERT Ala56 mice have abnormally slowed in vivo and in vitro motility throughout the entire intestine, including a decrease in the frequency and speed of colonic peristaltic contractions”

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  1. 10.1016/j.celrep.2014 · DOI

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Authors
Margolis, K. G., Li, Z., Stevanovic, K., Saurman, V., Israelyan, N., Anderson, G. M., Snyder, I., Veenstra-VanderWeele, J., Blakely, R. D., & Gershon, M. D.
Affiliations
  • Columbia University (US)
  • Yale University (US)
  • Vanderbilt University (US)
Corresponding author
Margolis, Kara Gross
Venue
Journal of Clinical Investigation
Published
2016-04-25
Volume
126
Issue
6
Pages
2221-2235
ISSN
  • 0021-9738 (ISSN-L)
  • 1558-8238
OpenAlex
W2343547480
Cited by
139
References
77
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 4
FWCI
8.91
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Clinical Investigation (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Autism Research Institute (NS15547, DK093786)
  • National Institutes of Health (5r01ns015547-39, NS15547, MH096972)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (P50MH096972, R01MH094604)
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (K08DK093786)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01-NS015547)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Congenital gastrointestinal and neural anomalies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
Keywords
autism spectrum disorder, serotonin transporter, gastrointestinal dysfunction, fluoxetine, 5-HT4 receptor agonist, peristalsis, gut-brain axis, mouse model
MeSH terms
Autism Spectrum Disorder, Animals, Female, Gastrointestinal Motility, Humans, Male, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Mutant Strains, Pregnancy, Serotonin, Genetic Variation, Enteric Nervous System, Mice, Knockout, Models, Animal, Gastrointestinal Tract, Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins, Mice, Neurogenesis, Mice, 129 Strain

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