Autism Studies and Related Medical Conditions, January 2009 - TACA

oligonucleotide probes targeting predominant components of the gut flora. The
faecal flora of ASD patients contained a higher incidence of the Clostridium
histolyticum group (Clostridium clusters I and II) of bacteria than that of healthy
children. However, the non-autistic sibling group had an intermediate level of the
C. histolyticum group, which was not significantly different from either of the
other subject groups. Members of the C. histolyticum group are recognized toxinproducers
and may contribute towards gut dysfunction, with their metabolic
products also exerting systemic effects. Strategies to reduce clostridial population
levels harboured by ASD patients or to improve their gut microflora profile
through dietary modulation may help to alleviate gut disorders common in such
patients.
Quigley, E. M. and D. Hurley (2000). "Autism and the gastrointestinal tract." Am J
Gastroenterol 95(9): 2154-6.
Reichelt, K. L. (1991). "[Gluten-free diet in infantile autism]." Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen
111(10): 1286-7.
Reichelt, K. L., K. Hole, et al. (1981). "Biologically active peptide-containing fractions in
schizophrenia and childhood autism." Adv Biochem Psychopharmacol 28: 627-43.
It is well documented that peptides have a major role in the effective functioning
of higher animals at all levels from enzyme stabilization to homeostatic
mechanisms governing essential functions such as eating, sexual behavior, and
temperature regulation. The effects of exogenously administered peptides on
neurotransmitter release, uptake, metabolism and behavioral consequences are
also well established. We have attempted to extend these findings by postulating
peptidergic neurons as transducers of multisignal inputs, and that development
of pathological states may be due to genetically-determined reduced levels of
activity of key peptidases, leading to excretion of regulatory peptides into the
circulation. We have been able to demonstrate that, in schizophrenia and autism
(in well defined clinical cases), the patterns of peptides and associated proteins
from urinary samples differ considerably from each other and from normal
controls. In addition to this, further purification of the material obtained has led
to the discovery of a number of factors capable of modulating the function of
major neurotransmitters. Some of these are in the final stages of characterization
as peptides, while the remainder are also probably peptides, as purification has
been followed by both biological testing and chemical analysis for peptidic
material. We have outlined a number of parameters which we consider relevant
in any attempt to put psychiatric disorders on a biological foundation. Any new
advances in the neurochemical understanding of such disorders must take into
consideration the observations of several different disciplines including genetics
and psychology. However, at this stage of research it is far too early to speculate
on the relevance of the various biological activities to the etiology and
symptomatology of schizophrenia and childhood autism.
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