GENE VARIANT IS ASSOCIATED WITH BOTH AUTISM AND GASTROINTESTINAL
DYSFUNCTION

Autism is a disorder characterized, in part, by deficits in
communication abilities. Gastrointestinal conditions are common among
individuals with autism, and it may be difficult for some individuals to
communicate that they are experiencing gastrointestinal discomfort. Some
theories of autism speculate that gastrointestinal dysfunction may
impact brain development, while other theories of autism suggest that
the altered nervous system development may affect gastrointestinal
function. In the study, "Distinct Genetic Risk Based on Association of
MET in Families With Co-occurring Autism and Gastrointestinal
Conditions," researchers demonstrate genetic risk may be playing a role
in both the brain and the gut. The scientists found that a functional
genetic variant in a gene called MET is more strongly associated with
autism specifically in those families where an individual had
co-occurring autism and a gastrointestinal condition. Independent
studies have shown that the MET gene product, a receptor tyrosine kinase
protein, functions in both brain development and gastrointestinal
repair. These data suggest that altered MET expression may contribute to
a syndrome that includes autism and co-occurring gastrointestinal
dysfunction.

http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/mar09studies.htm#television