A domestic research team has revealed for the first time in the world that gut microbiota directly impacts the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This discovery opens up the possibility of treating autism by regulating the gut environment.
A research team from Pohang University of Science and Technology POSTECH's Department of Life Sciences and Graduate School of Convergence announced on the 18th in the international journal 'Nature Communications' that they have uncovered the principles of how gut microbiota and immune responses trigger autism spectrum disorder.
Autism is a representative developmental disorder that affects social interaction, communication, and behavioral development, and the number of patients has surged recently. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1 in 31 children in the United States will have autism next year, and a similar prevalence rate is likely in Korea and Japan. However, there is still no exact cause or fundamental treatment.
The research team confirmed through experiments that they created a genetically modified animal model of autism in a germ-free state for the first time in the world, and found that without gut microbiota, characteristic abnormal behaviors associated with autism do not appear. This means that gut microbiota is essential for the development of symptoms. Gut microbiota stimulates immune cells in the brain, causing inflammation, and specific immune cells play a crucial role in the onset of autism. By blocking the immune pathway, brain inflammation was reduced, and abnormal behaviors improved, confirming a new fact that the gut, immune system, and brain work together in consolidation.
The research team also revealed that gut microbiota disrupts the balance that regulates neural signals in the brain. When this balance is disrupted, problems arise in behaviors and cognitive functions. Based on this, they utilized artificial intelligence (AI) to identify a beneficial bacterium called 'Lactobacillus rhamnosus (IMB015)' among gut strains that can restore this balance and reduce behavioral problems. After administering this strain, brain inflammation decreased, and the prevention of autism-related abnormal behaviors was observed.
Professor Lim Sin-hyeok, who led the study at the Department of Life Sciences and the Graduate School of Convergence, said, 'This study will serve as a turning point in viewing autism not merely as a genetic disorder, but as an immune-neurological disease that can be managed by regulating gut microbiota.'
This study was conducted in collaboration with industry-academia through Professor Lim's research team and the immunobiome he founded. Immunobiome is developing probiotic therapies targeting intractable and autoimmune diseases, and the research team plans to develop a probiotic treatment for autism symptom improvement through clinical research in the future.
References
Nature Communications (2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61544-0