TY - JOUR
T1 - Saliva RNA Biomarkers of Gastrointestinal Dysfunction in Children With Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
T2 - Potential Implications for Precision Medicine
AU - Beversdorf, David Q.
AU - Sohl, Kristin
AU - Levitskiy, David
AU - Tennant, Priscilla
AU - Goin-Kochel, Robin P.
AU - Shaffer, Rebecca C.
AU - Confair, Alexandra
AU - Middleton, Frank A.
AU - Hicks, Steven D.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2022 Beversdorf, Sohl, Levitskiy, Tennant, Goin-Kochel, Shaffer, Confair, Middleton and Hicks.
PY - 2022/1/20
Y1 - 2022/1/20
N2 - Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are common in children with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A limited understanding of the biologic factors that predispose this population to GI disorders has prevented development of individualized therapies to address this important medical issue. The goal of the current study was to determine if elements of the salivary micro-transcriptome could provide insight into the biologic perturbations unique to children with ASD-related GI disturbance. This cohort study included 898 children (ages 18–73 months) with ASD, non-ASD developmental delay (DD), or typical development (TD). The saliva micro-transcriptome of each child was assessed with RNA-seq. Outputs were aligned to microbial and human databases. A Kruskal Wallis analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare levels of 1821 micro-transcriptome features across neurodevelopmental status (ASD, DD, or TD) and GI presence or absence. An ANOVA was also used to compare micro-transcriptome levels among GI sub-groups (constipation, reflux, food intolerance, other GI condition, no GI condition), and to identify RNAs that differed among children taking three common GI medications (probiotics, reflux medication, or laxatives). Relationships between features identified in ANOVA testing were examined for associations with scores on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, 2nd Edition (ADOS-2) and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales. GI disturbance rates were higher among children with ASD than peers with TD but were similar to those with DD. Five piwi-interacting RNAs and three microbial RNAs displayed an interaction between developmental status and GI disturbance. Fifty-seven salivary RNAs differed between GI sub-groups–with microRNA differences between food intolerance and reflux groups being most common. Twelve microRNAs displayed an effect of GI disturbance and showed association with GI medication uses and measures of behavior. These 12 microRNAs displayed enrichment for 13 physiologic pathways, including metabolism/digestion long-term depression, and neurobiology of addiction. This study identifies salivary micro-transcriptome features with differential expression among children with ASD-related GI disturbance. A subset of the RNAs displays relationships with treatment modality and are associated with autistic behaviors. The pathobiologic targets of the micro-transcriptome markers may serve as targets for individualized therapeutic interventions aimed at easing pain and behavioral difficulties seen in ASD-related GI disturbance.
AB - Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are common in children with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A limited understanding of the biologic factors that predispose this population to GI disorders has prevented development of individualized therapies to address this important medical issue. The goal of the current study was to determine if elements of the salivary micro-transcriptome could provide insight into the biologic perturbations unique to children with ASD-related GI disturbance. This cohort study included 898 children (ages 18–73 months) with ASD, non-ASD developmental delay (DD), or typical development (TD). The saliva micro-transcriptome of each child was assessed with RNA-seq. Outputs were aligned to microbial and human databases. A Kruskal Wallis analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare levels of 1821 micro-transcriptome features across neurodevelopmental status (ASD, DD, or TD) and GI presence or absence. An ANOVA was also used to compare micro-transcriptome levels among GI sub-groups (constipation, reflux, food intolerance, other GI condition, no GI condition), and to identify RNAs that differed among children taking three common GI medications (probiotics, reflux medication, or laxatives). Relationships between features identified in ANOVA testing were examined for associations with scores on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, 2nd Edition (ADOS-2) and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales. GI disturbance rates were higher among children with ASD than peers with TD but were similar to those with DD. Five piwi-interacting RNAs and three microbial RNAs displayed an interaction between developmental status and GI disturbance. Fifty-seven salivary RNAs differed between GI sub-groups–with microRNA differences between food intolerance and reflux groups being most common. Twelve microRNAs displayed an effect of GI disturbance and showed association with GI medication uses and measures of behavior. These 12 microRNAs displayed enrichment for 13 physiologic pathways, including metabolism/digestion long-term depression, and neurobiology of addiction. This study identifies salivary micro-transcriptome features with differential expression among children with ASD-related GI disturbance. A subset of the RNAs displays relationships with treatment modality and are associated with autistic behaviors. The pathobiologic targets of the micro-transcriptome markers may serve as targets for individualized therapeutic interventions aimed at easing pain and behavioral difficulties seen in ASD-related GI disturbance.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85124090842&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85124090842&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.824933
DO - 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.824933
M3 - Article
C2 - 35126215
AN - SCOPUS:85124090842
SN - 1664-0640
VL - 12
JO - Frontiers in Psychiatry
JF - Frontiers in Psychiatry
M1 - 824933
ER -