The role of the liver in autism spectrum disorders (ASD), developmental disabilities characterized by impairments in social interactions and repetitive behavioral patterns, has been poorly investigated. In ASD, it has been shown a dysregulation of gut-brain crosstalk, a communication system able to influence metabolic homeostasis, as well as brain development, mood and cognitive functions. The liver, with its key role in inflammatory and metabolic states, represents the crucial metabolic organ in this crosstalk. Indeed, through the portal vein, the liver receives not only nutrients but also numerous factors derived from the gut and visceral adipose tissue, which modulate metabolism and hepatic mitochondrial functions. Here, we investigated, in an animal model of ASD (BTBR mice), the involvement of hepatic mitochondria in the regulation of inflammatory state and liver damage. We observed increased inflammation and oxidative stress linked to hepatic mitochondrial dysfunction, steatotic hepatocytes, and marked mitochondrial fission in BTBR mice. Our preliminary study provides a better understanding of the pathophysiology of ASD and could open the way to identifying hepatic mitochondria as targets for innovative therapeutic strategies for the disease.

The Hepatic Mitochondrial Alterations Exacerbate Meta-Inflammation in Autism Spectrum Disorders / Trinchese, Giovanna; Cimmino, Fabiano; Cavaliere, Gina; Catapano, Angela; Fogliano, Chiara; Lama, Adriano; Pirozzi, Claudio; Cristiano, Claudia; Russo, Roberto; Petrella, Lidia; Meli, Rosaria; Mattace Raso, Giuseppina; Crispino, Marianna; Avallone, Bice; Mollica, Maria Pina. - In: ANTIOXIDANTS. - ISSN 2076-3921. - 11:10(2022), p. 1990. [10.3390/antiox11101990]

The Hepatic Mitochondrial Alterations Exacerbate Meta-Inflammation in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Trinchese, Giovanna
Co-primo
Investigation
;
Cimmino, Fabiano
Co-primo
Investigation
;
Cavaliere, Gina
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Catapano, Angela
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Fogliano, Chiara
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Lama, Adriano
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Pirozzi, Claudio
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Cristiano, Claudia
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Russo, Roberto
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Petrella, Lidia
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Meli, Rosaria
Visualization
;
Mattace Raso, Giuseppina
Visualization
;
Crispino, Marianna
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Avallone, Bice
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Mollica, Maria Pina
Ultimo
Conceptualization
2022

Abstract

The role of the liver in autism spectrum disorders (ASD), developmental disabilities characterized by impairments in social interactions and repetitive behavioral patterns, has been poorly investigated. In ASD, it has been shown a dysregulation of gut-brain crosstalk, a communication system able to influence metabolic homeostasis, as well as brain development, mood and cognitive functions. The liver, with its key role in inflammatory and metabolic states, represents the crucial metabolic organ in this crosstalk. Indeed, through the portal vein, the liver receives not only nutrients but also numerous factors derived from the gut and visceral adipose tissue, which modulate metabolism and hepatic mitochondrial functions. Here, we investigated, in an animal model of ASD (BTBR mice), the involvement of hepatic mitochondria in the regulation of inflammatory state and liver damage. We observed increased inflammation and oxidative stress linked to hepatic mitochondrial dysfunction, steatotic hepatocytes, and marked mitochondrial fission in BTBR mice. Our preliminary study provides a better understanding of the pathophysiology of ASD and could open the way to identifying hepatic mitochondria as targets for innovative therapeutic strategies for the disease.
2022
The Hepatic Mitochondrial Alterations Exacerbate Meta-Inflammation in Autism Spectrum Disorders / Trinchese, Giovanna; Cimmino, Fabiano; Cavaliere, Gina; Catapano, Angela; Fogliano, Chiara; Lama, Adriano; Pirozzi, Claudio; Cristiano, Claudia; Russo, Roberto; Petrella, Lidia; Meli, Rosaria; Mattace Raso, Giuseppina; Crispino, Marianna; Avallone, Bice; Mollica, Maria Pina. - In: ANTIOXIDANTS. - ISSN 2076-3921. - 11:10(2022), p. 1990. [10.3390/antiox11101990]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11588/902486
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