Fig. 7: Summary of the microbiota–gut–brain axis in the CHD8 mouse model of ASD. | Nature Communications

Fig. 7: Summary of the microbiota–gut–brain axis in the CHD8 mouse model of ASD.

From: Changes to gut amino acid transporters and microbiome associated with increased E/I ratio in Chd8+/− mouse model of ASD-like behavior

Fig. 7

Chd8+/− mice show increased expression of the intestinal transporters SLC6A19 and SLC7A8, resulting in more glutamine transported to the serum. Elevated serum glutamine increases the levels of glutamine and glutamate in the brain, contributing to the E/I imbalance and ASD-like behaviors in the Chd8+/− mice. Gut microbiota dysbiosis characterized by a low abundance of Bacteroides in the Chd8+/− mice is induced by high levels of intestinal α-defensins. In addition, supplementation with B. uniformis improves the E/I imbalance and restores ASD-like behaviors in the Chd8+/− mice by decreasing the intestinal amino acid transport of glutamine and thus reducing the glutamine and glutamate levels in the brain.

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