PPA from Processed Foods Induces 'Autism'

[Asia Economy Reporter Junho Hwang] Domestic researchers have announced a study result showing that consuming propionic acid (PPA), found in processed foods, can affect our brain and induce autism. This research supports the concept of the 'gut-brain axis,' which suggests that substances in the gut can influence brain nerve cells. On the 11th, the Korea Brain Research Institute announced that Dr. Ji-Young Moon's research team revealed the mechanism by which gut microbial imbalance induces autism, and their findings were published in this month's issue of the international journal Molecular Brain.

Gut Microbial Metabolites Affect the Brain

The dendritic spines of hippocampal neurons affected by PPA are reduced.

The research team focused on the fact that autistic children often suffer from gastrointestinal issues such as irritable bowel syndrome. They then studied the effects of propionic acid, a bacterial metabolite in the gut, on brain nerve cells.

The team administered PPA to cultured neurons from rats and observed the morphology and protein expression of hippocampal nerve cells. As a result, they found that autophagy was impaired, leading to a reduction in the number of dendritic spines. Autophagosomes, which perform cellular self-cleaning by degrading unnecessary proteins and organelles, failed to properly fuse with lysosomes, the organelles responsible for breaking down substances inside the cell. Consequently, waste accumulated, and the dendritic spines, which are crucial for nerve cell formation, decreased, slowing essential brain development during childhood.

In particular, the team confirmed that the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (phosphorylation enzyme) pathway was excessively activated in cells treated with PPA. Conversely, controlling this pathway led to the recovery of the reduced dendritic spines.

PPA is a food additive used to extend the shelf life of processed foods and is commonly found in such products.

Strategies for Treating Autism Induced by PPA

The research team expects that these findings will provide fundamental mechanisms of autism induced by PPA and potential strategies for treating related disorders. They anticipate that follow-up studies using animal models treated with PPA will offer important information for establishing control strategies for related brain diseases.

Researcher Ji-Young Moon stated, "We have identified one of the various effects that gut microbes have on the brain," adding, "We will continue to study the mechanisms by which propionic acid (PPA) induces brain disorders, hoping to apply this knowledge to the treatment of related diseases in the future."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.