A mother’s gut microbiome linked to immune activation and with increased susceptibility of her offspring to developing autism spectrum disorder.

This animal study found that maternal microbiome was specifically linked to immune activation through the production of a proinflammatory cytokine called IL-17a, which has also been linked to rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and psoriasis.

A growing body of evidence, both in animals and humans, has linked maternal immune activation with autism spectrum disorder. Mothers of children with autism are 5 times more likely to have circulation autoantibodies against fetal brain proteins.