Issues for patchy tissues: defining roles for gut-associated lymphoid tissue in neurodevelopment and disease

Individuals diagnosed with neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD; autism) often experience tissue inflammation as well as gastrointestinal dysfunction, yet their underlying causes remain poorly characterised. Notably, the largest components of the body’s immune system, including gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), lie within the gastrointestinal tract. A major constituent of GALT in humans comprises secretory lymphoid aggregates known as Peyer’s patches that sense and combat constant exposure to pathogens and infectious agents. Essential to the functions of Peyer’s patches is its communication with the enteric nervous system (ENS), an intrinsic neural network that regulates gastrointestinal function. Crosstalk between these tissues contribute to the microbiota-gut-brain axis that altogether influences mood and behaviour. Increasing evidence further points to a critical role for this signalling axis in neurodevelopmental homeostasis and disease. Notably, while the neuroimmunomodulatory functions for Peyer’s patches are increasingly better understood, functions for tissues of analogous function, such as caecal patches, remain less well characterised. Here, we compare the structure, function and development of Peyer’s patches, as well as caecal and appendix patches in humans and model organisms including mice to highlight the roles for these essential tissues in health and disease. We propose that perturbations to GALT function may underlie inflammatory disorders and gastrointestinal dysfunction in neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism.