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Figure 1. Evidence supporting a gut-immune-brain axis in ASD. ASD patients show comorbidities with gastrointestinal disorders and immune dysregulation, marked by elevated inflammatory cytokines. These clinical observations have prompted extensive investigation into the gut microbial composition in ASD and the associated metabolic signatures. As major regulators of host immunity, the gut microbiota and their metabolites influence peripheral immune responses within the central nervous system, providing a potential mechanistic link between gut dysbiosis and ASD pathophysiology. Created using Adobe Illustrator. ASD: Autism spectrum disorder; TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor-α; IL: interleukin; TGF-β: Transforming growth factor-β; GM-CSF: granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor; GABA: gamma-aminobutyric acid; IFN-γ: interferon-γ; Treg: regulatory T cell.