Associations between cytokines, endocrine stress response, and gastrointestinal symptoms in autism spectrum disorder

作者：Ferguson Bradley J; Marler Sarah; Altstein Lily L; Lee Evon Batey; Mazurek Micah O; McLaughlin Aaron; Macklin Eric A; McDonnell Erin; Davis Daniel J; Belenchia Anthony M; Gillespie Catherine H; Peterson Catherine A; Bauman Margaret L; Margolis Kara Gross; Veenstra VanderWeele Jeremy; Beversdorf David Q^*

来源：Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 2016, 58: 57-62.

DOI：10.1016/j.bbi.2016.05.009

• Autism spectrum disorder
• Cortisol
• Cytokines
• Stress
• Gastrointestinal disorders

Many children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have significant gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, but the etiology is currently unknown. Some individuals with ASD show altered reactivity to stress and altered immune markers relative to typically-developing individuals, particularly stress responsive cytokines including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 6 (IL-6). Acute and chronic stress is associated with the onset and exacerbation of GI symptoms in those without ASD. The present study examined whether GI symptoms in ASD were associated with increases in cortisol, a stress-associated endocrine marker, and TNF-alpha and IL-6 in response to stress. As hypothesized, a greater amount of lower GI tract symptoms were significantly associated with post-stress cortisol concentration. The relationship between cortisol response to stress and GI functioning was greater for children who had a history of regressive autism. Exploratory analyses revealed significant correlations between cortisol response, intelligence, and inappropriate speech. In contrast, symptoms of the lower GI tract were not associated with levels of TNF-alpha or IL-6. Significant correlations were found, however, between TNF-alpha and IL-6 and irritability, socialization, and intelligence. These findings suggest that individuals with ASD and symptoms of the lower GI tract may have an increased response to stress, but this effect is not associated with concomitant changes in TNF-alpha and IL-6. The relationship between cortisol stress response and lower GI tract symptoms in children with regressive autism, as well as the relationships between cortisol, IL-6, and intelligence in ASD, warrant further investigation.

• 出版日期2016-11