Publication Name	World Journal of Psychiatry
Manuscript ID	123438
DOI	10.5498/wjp.123438
Country	China

Category	Psychiatry
Manuscript Type	Review
Article Title	Muscle-brain endocrine axis in autism spectrum disorder: Mechanisms, evidence, and research priorities
Manuscript Source	Unsolicited Manuscript
All Author List	Rui-Yin Guo and Wen-Cong Geng
Funding Agency and Grant Number
Corresponding Author	Rui-Yin Guo, Lecturer, Department of Basic Courses, Qilu Institute of Technology, No. 3028 Jingshi East Road, Jinan 250200, Shandong Province, China. guoruiin@163.com
Key Words	Autism spectrum disorder; Skeletal muscle; Muscle-brain axis; Myokines; Irisin; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Neuroplasticity; Exercise intervention
Core Tip	This review evaluates skeletal muscle-brain communication as a hypothesis-generating framework for autism spectrum disorder. It distinguishes autism-specific evidence from mechanistic findings derived from other disease models, addresses the brain-derived neurotrophic factor paradox, and emphasizes that the proposed links among irisin, interleukin-6, neuroplasticity, neuroinflammation, metabolism, and stress regulation vary substantially in evidential strength. Current data do not justify biomarker-guided exercise prescriptions or myokine-targeted therapy in clinical practice. Instead, the framework identifies testable mechanisms, major translational gaps, and priorities for stratified randomized trials.
Citation	Guo RY, Geng WC. Muscle-brain endocrine axis in autism spectrum disorder: Mechanisms, evidence, and research priorities. World J Psychiatry 2026; In press DOI: https://doi.org/10.5498/wjp.123438
PDF	123438-in-press.pdf

Received	2026-05-20 08:10
Peer-Review Started	2026-05-20 08:10
First Decision by Editorial Office Director
Return for Revision	2026-07-06 11:31
Revised	2026-07-18 15:16
Publication Fee Transferred	2026-08-01 09:21
Second Decision by Editor	2026-08-19 02:56
Second Decision by Editor-in-Chief
Final Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-08-20 08:44
Articles in Press	2026-08-20 08:44
Edit the Manuscript by Language Editor
Typeset the Manuscript

ISSN	2220-3206 (online)
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