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Floris DL, Wolfers T, Zabihi M, Holz NE, Zwiers MP, Charman T, Tillmann J, Ecker C, Dell'Acqua F, Banaschewski T, Moessnang C, Baron-Cohen S, Holt R, Durston S, Loth E, Murphy DGM, Marquand A, Buitelaar JK, Beckmann CF. Atypical Brain Asymmetry in Autism-A Candidate for Clinically Meaningful Stratification. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2021; 6:802-812. [PMID: 33097470 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2020.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder ("autism") is a highly heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition with few effective treatments for core and associated features. To make progress we need to both identify and validate neural markers that help to parse heterogeneity to tailor therapies to specific neurobiological profiles. Atypical hemispheric lateralization is a stable feature across studies in autism, but its potential as a neural stratification marker has not been widely examined. METHODS In order to dissect heterogeneity in lateralization in autism, we used the large EU-AIMS (European Autism Interventions-A Multicentre Study for Developing New Medications) Longitudinal European Autism Project dataset comprising 352 individuals with autism and 233 neurotypical control subjects as well as a replication dataset from ABIDE (Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange) (513 individuals with autism, 691 neurotypical subjects) using a promising approach that moves beyond mean group comparisons. We derived gray matter voxelwise laterality values for each subject and modeled individual deviations from the normative pattern of brain laterality across age using normative modeling. RESULTS Individuals with autism had highly individualized patterns of both extreme right- and leftward deviations, particularly in language, motor, and visuospatial regions, associated with symptom severity. Language delay explained most variance in extreme rightward patterns, whereas core autism symptom severity explained most variance in extreme leftward patterns. Follow-up analyses showed that a stepwise pattern emerged, with individuals with autism with language delay showing more pronounced rightward deviations than individuals with autism without language delay. CONCLUSIONS Our analyses corroborate the need for novel (dimensional) approaches to delineate the heterogeneous neuroanatomy in autism and indicate that atypical lateralization may constitute a neurophenotype for clinically meaningful stratification in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothea L Floris
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department for Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Thomas Wolfers
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway; Norwegian Center for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo Hospital and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Mariam Zabihi
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department for Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Nathalie E Holz
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Marcel P Zwiers
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Tony Charman
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Julian Tillmann
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Applied Psychology: Health, Development, Enhancement, and Intervention, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christine Ecker
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt am Main, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany; Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Flavio Dell'Acqua
- Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tobias Banaschewski
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Carolin Moessnang
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Rosemary Holt
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Durston
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Eva Loth
- Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Declan G M Murphy
- Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andre Marquand
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department for Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jan K Buitelaar
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department for Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Karakter Child and Adolescent Psychiatry University Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Christian F Beckmann
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department for Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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de Giambattista C, Ventura P, Trerotoli P, Margari F, Margari L. Sex Differences in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Focus on High Functioning Children and Adolescents. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:539835. [PMID: 34305658 PMCID: PMC8298903 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.539835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has historically been studied, known, and diagnosed in males. Females tend to remain unidentified, especially those with average intelligence abilities. This sex/gender difference might be partially explained by biological risk factors, but it is probably also bound to methodological issues. The present study aims to examine phenotypic characteristics (cognitive, emotive, socio-communicative, and academic) of a group of 54 females with ASD matched to a group of 55 males with ASD (3-18 years), all without cognitive impairment. Results suggest that there are subtle, yet potentially meaningful, quantitative, and qualitative phenotypic differences between females and males that common screening tests are not always sensitive enough to recognize. Further studies to improve practice and course for the assessment of females, reducing sex/gender-based inequities in ASD care, are required.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Patrizia Ventura
- Child Neuropsychiatric Unit, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Paolo Trerotoli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Francesco Margari
- Psychiatric Emergencies in Adolescence Unit, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Lucia Margari
- Child Neuropsychiatric Unit, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
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53
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Tsompanidis A, Aydin E, Padaigaitė E, Richards G, Allison C, Hackett G, Austin T, Holt R, Baron-Cohen S. Maternal steroid levels and the autistic traits of the mother and infant. Mol Autism 2021; 12:51. [PMID: 34238355 PMCID: PMC8268382 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-021-00453-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal sex steroids have been associated with autism in several clinical and epidemiological studies. It is unclear how this relates to the autistic traits of the mother and how early this can be detected during pregnancy and postnatal development. METHODS Maternal serum was collected from pregnant women (n = 122) before or during their first ultrasound appointment [mean = 12.7 (SD = 0.7) weeks]. Concentrations of the following were measured via immunoassays: testosterone, estradiol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, progesterone; and sex hormone-binding globulin which was used to compute the free fractions of estradiol (FEI) and testosterone (FTI). Standardised human choriogonadotropin (hCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) values were obtained from clinical records corresponding to the same serum samples. Mothers completed the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and for their infants, the Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) when the infants were between 18 and 20 months old. RESULTS FEI was positively associated with maternal autistic traits in univariate (n = 108, Pearson's r = 0.22, p = 0.019) and multiple regression models (semipartial r = 0.19, p = 0.048) controlling for maternal age and a diagnosis of PCOS. Maternal estradiol levels significantly interacted with fetal sex in predicting infant Q-CHAT scores, with a positive relationship in males but not females (n = 100, interaction term: semipartial r = 0.23, p = 0.036) after controlling for maternal AQ and other covariates. The opposite was found for standardised hCG values and Q-CHAT scores, with a positive association in females but not in males (n = 151, interaction term: r = -0.25, p = 0.005). LIMITATIONS Sample size of this cohort was small, with potential ascertainment bias given elective recruitment. Clinical covariates were controlled in multiple regression models, but additional research is needed to confirm the statistically significant findings in larger cohorts. CONCLUSION Maternal steroid factors during pregnancy are associated with autistic traits in mothers and their infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Tsompanidis
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - E Aydin
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - E Padaigaitė
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - G Richards
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,School of Psychology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - C Allison
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - G Hackett
- The Rosie Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - T Austin
- The Rosie Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - R Holt
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - S Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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The Association Between Autistic Traits and Disordered Eating is Moderated by Sex/Gender and Independent of Anxiety and Depression. J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 51:1866-1879. [PMID: 32852639 PMCID: PMC8124044 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-020-04669-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies have reported positive correlations between autistic traits and disordered eating, though it is unclear whether the association is moderated by sex/gender or whether it is independent of anxiety or depression. We present the findings of an online survey of 691 participants who completed the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26). Following a pre-registered analysis plan, we observed positive correlations between AQ and EAT-26 in males and females, with the association being significantly stronger in females. AQ also remained a significant predictor of EAT-26 when anxiety and depression were controlled for statistically. These findings may be relevant when considering therapeutic interventions in disordered eating populations that exhibit autistic traits.
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55
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Kung KTF, Thankamony A, Ong KKL, Acerini CL, Dunger DB, Hughes IA, Hines M. No relationship between prenatal or early postnatal androgen exposure and autistic traits: evidence using anogenital distance and penile length measurements at birth and 3 months of age. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2021; 62:876-883. [PMID: 33049073 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism is more prevalent in males than in females. Hypotheses related to the extreme male brain theory of autism suggest that heightened androgen exposure during early development contributes to autistic traits. Whilst prior research focused mostly on the prenatal period, the current study tests the influences of androgen exposure during both the prenatal and the early postnatal periods on autistic traits during childhood. METHODS Anthropometric measures that are putative biomarkers of early androgen exposure were employed. Anogenital distance (AGD) was measured at birth and 3 months of age in boys and girls. Penile length at birth and 3 months of age was also measured in boys. When the children were 9-13 years old, a parent-reported questionnaire (the 10-item children's version of the Autism Spectrum Quotient; AQ-10 Child) was used to assess autistic traits in 97 boys and 110 girls. RESULTS There were no significant associations between any of the AGD or penile length measures and scores on the AQ-10 Child in boys, girls or the entire sample. CONCLUSIONS The current study provides the first test of whether early measurements of AGD and/or penile length predict subsequent autistic traits. The current findings do not support a relationship between prenatal or early postnatal androgen exposure and autistic traits. The current study augments prior research showing no consistent relationship between early androgen exposure and autistic traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karson T F Kung
- Department of Psychology, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.,School of Psychology, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK.,Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ajay Thankamony
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ken K L Ong
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Carlo L Acerini
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - David B Dunger
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ieuan A Hughes
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Melissa Hines
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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56
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Walsh MJM, Wallace GL, Gallegos SM, Braden BB. Brain-based sex differences in autism spectrum disorder across the lifespan: A systematic review of structural MRI, fMRI, and DTI findings. Neuroimage Clin 2021; 31:102719. [PMID: 34153690 PMCID: PMC8233229 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2021.102719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Females with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been long overlooked in neuroscience research, but emerging evidence suggests they show distinct phenotypic trajectories and age-related brain differences. Sex-related biological factors (e.g., hormones, genes) may play a role in ASD etiology and have been shown to influence neurodevelopmental trajectories. Thus, a lifespan approach is warranted to understand brain-based sex differences in ASD. This systematic review on MRI-based sex differences in ASD was conducted to elucidate variations across the lifespan and inform biomarker discovery of ASD in females We identified articles through two database searches. Fifty studies met criteria and underwent integrative review. We found that regions expressing replicable sex-by-diagnosis differences across studies overlapped with regions showing sex differences in neurotypical cohorts. Furthermore, studies investigating age-related brain differences across a broad age-span suggest distinct neurodevelopmental patterns in females with ASD. Qualitative comparison across youth and adult studies also supported this hypothesis. However, many studies collapsed across age, which may mask differences. Furthermore, accumulating evidence supports the female protective effect in ASD, although only one study examined brain circuits implicated in "protection." When synthesized with the broader literature, brain-based sex differences in ASD may come from various sources, including genetic and endocrine processes involved in brain "masculinization" and "feminization" across early development, puberty, and other lifespan windows of hormonal transition. Furthermore, sex-related biology may interact with peripheral processes, in particular the stress axis and brain arousal system, to produce distinct neurodevelopmental patterns in males and females with ASD. Future research on neuroimaging-based sex differences in ASD would benefit from a lifespan approach in well-controlled and multivariate studies. Possible relationships between behavior, sex hormones, and brain development in ASD remain largely unexamined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa J M Walsh
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, 975 S. Myrtle Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Gregory L Wallace
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, The George Washington University, 2115 G St. NW, Washington, DC 20052, USA.
| | - Stephen M Gallegos
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, 975 S. Myrtle Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - B Blair Braden
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, 975 S. Myrtle Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA.
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Joyal CC, Carpentier J, McKinnon S, Normand CL, Poulin MH. Sexual Knowledge, Desires, and Experience of Adolescents and Young Adults With an Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Exploratory Study. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:685256. [PMID: 34177667 PMCID: PMC8219850 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.685256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Although most persons with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) wish to have romantic and/or sexual relationships, little is known about self-report sexuality of adolescents/young adults with ASD. In this exploratory study, 172 male and female adolescents/young adults (68 with ASD and 104 without ASD) completed an online version of the Sexual Behavior Scale-Third edition. Although many more similarities than differences were observed between the groups for views and desires about romantic relationships (e.g., wishing to have a girlfriend/boyfriend), fewer participants with ASD (mostly boys) had experience with a variety of sexual/dyadic behaviors, and approximately half of girls with ASD reported negative sexual experiences. Significantly higher rates of participants with ASD felt their knowledge about sexuality was limited and found it difficult to understand sexual education compared with typically developing (TD) participants. Significantly lower rates of participants with ASD reported that they identify to their assigned gender compared with TD participants. Multiple regressions revealed that being older at first diagnosis and possessing better knowledge about sexuality were significant predictors of both positive and negative sexual experience. This study explores strengths and challenges related with the sexual health of adolescents/young adults with ASD and implications for clinical and educational practice are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian C. Joyal
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
| | - Julie Carpentier
- Department of Psychoeducation, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
| | - Suzie McKinnon
- Integrated University Health and Social Services Centre (IUHSSC) of Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, IUHSSC Bas-Saint-Laurent and IUHSSC Côte-Nord, Saguenay, QC, Canada
- Intellectual Disability and Autism Spectrum Disorder Research Institute, IUHSSC of Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
| | - Claude L. Normand
- Intellectual Disability and Autism Spectrum Disorder Research Institute, IUHSSC of Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychoeducation and Psychology, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Gatineau, QC, Canada
| | - Marie-Hélène Poulin
- Intellectual Disability and Autism Spectrum Disorder Research Institute, IUHSSC of Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychoeducation, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Rouyn-Noranda, QC, Canada
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Liang Y, Yu H, Ke X, Eyles D, Sun R, Wang Z, Huang S, Lin L, McGrath JJ, Lu J, Guo X, Yao P. Vitamin D deficiency worsens maternal diabetes induced neurodevelopmental disorder by potentiating hyperglycemia-mediated epigenetic changes. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2021; 1491:74-88. [PMID: 33305416 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Many studies have shown that vitamin D (VD) deficiency may be a risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and schizophrenia, although causative mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the potential role and effect of VD on maternal diabetes induced autism-related phenotypes. The in vitro study found that enhancing genomic VD signaling by overexpressing the VD receptor (VDR) in human neural progenitor cells ACS-5003 protects against hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and inflammation by activating Nrf2 and its target genes, including SOD2 and HMOX1, and accordingly, VDR gene knockdown worsens the problem. In the two in vivo models we explored, maternal diabetes was used to establish an animal model of relevance to ASD, and mice lacking 25-hydroxyvitamin D 1-alpha-hydroxylase (the rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of 1,25(OH)2D3) were used to develop a model of VD deficiency (VDD). We show that although prenatal VDD itself does not produce ASD-relevant phenotypes, it significantly potentiates maternal diabetes induced epigenetic modifications and autism-related phenotypes. Postnatal manipulation of VD has no effect on maternal diabetes induced autism-related phenotypes. We conclude that VDD potentiates maternal diabetes induced autism-related phenotypes in offspring by epigenetic mechanisms. This study adds to other preclinical studies linking prenatal VDD with a neurodevelopmental disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Liang
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - Hong Yu
- Department of Pediatrics, Foshan University, Foshan Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Foshan, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoyin Ke
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - Darryl Eyles
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, the Park Centre for Mental Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ruoyu Sun
- Department of Pediatrics, Foshan University, Foshan Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Foshan, P.R. China
| | - Zichen Wang
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - Saijun Huang
- Department of Pediatrics, Foshan University, Foshan Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Foshan, P.R. China
| | - Ling Lin
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - John J McGrath
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, the Park Centre for Mental Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- National Centre for Register-based Research, Department of Economics and Business Economics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jianping Lu
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoling Guo
- Department of Pediatrics, Foshan University, Foshan Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Foshan, P.R. China
| | - Paul Yao
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, P.R. China
- Department of Pediatrics, Foshan University, Foshan Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Foshan, P.R. China
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Weir E, Allison C, Warrier V, Baron-Cohen S. Increased prevalence of non-communicable physical health conditions among autistic adults. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2021; 25:681-694. [PMID: 32907337 PMCID: PMC7610707 DOI: 10.1177/1362361320953652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Previous research indicates autistic individuals die at a younger age than others and that this is possibly due in part to chronic physical health conditions. The present study used an anonymous, online survey to determine how common certain physical health conditions are among autistic adults, compared with non-autistic adults. We found autistic adults are more likely to develop heart conditions, lung conditions, and diabetes than non-autistic adults. Autistic females may be at higher risk of developing certain conditions (including respiratory conditions, asthma, and prediabetes) than autistic males. Finally, autistic individuals have increased health risks even when considering lifestyle factors (such as smoking, alcohol, and body mass index). This is still a relatively small study, and future research needs to confirm these findings and identify why these risks exist.
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Navarro-Pardo E, López-Ramón F, Alonso-Esteban Y, Alcantud-Marín F. Diagnostic Tools for Autism Spectrum Disorders by Gender: Analysis of Current Status and Future Lines. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 8:262. [PMID: 33805261 PMCID: PMC8066607 DOI: 10.3390/children8040262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Studies on the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders have shown gender disproportion. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in this investigation area. There are two main research lines; the first is focused mostly on gender-related biological reasons that could account for low ASD prevalence in women (i.e., related to some protective factors related to hormones or the immune system, among others), and the second research line studies possible diagnostic biases. In the present study, a review of the latter line of research is made based on two main objectives: (a) analysis of possible biases in diagnostic tools and (b) other nonbiological ASD prevalence explained by gender differences. As a result of our theoretical review, we found that the articles reviewed showed contradictory results and possible diagnostic biases, not only in their design but also in their assessment standards. We concluded that specific or complementary diagnostic tools and procedures differentiated by gender should be developed in order to reduce these biases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Francisco Alcantud-Marín
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Valencia, 46010 València, Spain; (E.N.-P.); (F.L.-R.); (Y.A.-E.)
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61
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Singh RS, Singh KK, Singh SM. Origin of Sex-Biased Mental Disorders: An Evolutionary Perspective. J Mol Evol 2021; 89:195-213. [PMID: 33630117 PMCID: PMC8116267 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-021-09999-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Sexual dimorphism or sex bias in diseases and mental disorders have two biological causes: sexual selection and sex hormones. We review the role of sexual selection theory and bring together decades of molecular studies on the variation and evolution of sex-biased genes and provide a theoretical basis for the causes of sex bias in disease and health. We present a Sexual Selection-Sex Hormone theory and show that male-driven evolution, including sexual selection, leads to: (1) increased male vulnerability due to negative pleiotropic effects associated with male-driven sexual selection and evolution; (2) increased rates of male-driven mutations and epimutations in response to early fitness gains and at the cost of late fitness; and (3) enhanced female immunity due to antagonistic responses to mutations that are beneficial to males but harmful to females, reducing female vulnerability to diseases and increasing the thresholds for disorders such as autism. Female-driven evolution, such as reproduction-related fluctuation in female sex hormones in association with stress and social condition, has been shown to be associated with increased risk of certain mental disorders such as major depression disorder in women. Bodies have history, cells have memories. An evolutionary framework, such as the Sexual Selection–Sex Hormone theory, provides a historical perspective for understanding how the differences in the sex-biased diseases and mental disorders have evolved over time. It has the potential to direct the development of novel preventive and treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rama S Singh
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
| | - Karun K Singh
- Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.,Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Shiva M Singh
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
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62
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Liu J, Liang Y, Jiang X, Xu J, Sun Y, Wang Z, Lin L, Niu Y, Song S, Zhang H, Xue Z, Lu J, Yao P. Maternal Diabetes-Induced Suppression of Oxytocin Receptor Contributes to Social Deficits in Offspring. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:634781. [PMID: 33633538 PMCID: PMC7900564 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.634781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impaired skills in social interaction and communication in addition to restricted and repetitive behaviors. Many different factors may contribute to ASD development; in particular, oxytocin receptor (OXTR) deficiency has been reported to be associated with ASD, although the detailed mechanism has remained largely unknown. Epidemiological study has shown that maternal diabetes is associated with ASD development. In this study, we aim to investigate the potential role of OXTR on maternal diabetes-mediated social deficits in offspring. Our in vitro study of human neuron progenitor cells showed that hyperglycemia induces OXTR suppression and that this suppression remains during subsequent normoglycemia. Further investigation showed that OXTR suppression is due to hyperglycemia-induced persistent oxidative stress and epigenetic methylation in addition to the subsequent dissociation of estrogen receptor β (ERβ) from the OXTR promoter. Furthermore, our in vivo mouse study showed that maternal diabetes induces OXTR suppression; prenatal OXTR deficiency mimics and potentiates maternal diabetes-mediated anxiety-like behaviors, while there is less of an effect on autism-like behaviors. Additionally, postnatal infusion of OXTR partly, while infusion of ERβ completely, reverses maternal diabetes-induced social deficits. We conclude that OXTR may be an important factor for ASD development and that maternal diabetes-induced suppression of oxytocin receptor contributes to social deficits in offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianbo Liu
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yujie Liang
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xing Jiang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jianchang Xu
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yumeng Sun
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zichen Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ling Lin
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yanbin Niu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shiqi Song
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Huawei Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhenpeng Xue
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jianping Lu
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Paul Yao
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, Shenzhen, China
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63
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Seiffe A, Ramirez MF, Barrios CD, Albarrán MM, Depino AM. Early estradiol exposure masculinizes disease-relevant behaviors in female mice. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 53:2483-2499. [PMID: 33497491 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Most psychiatric disorders show a sex bias in incidence, symptomatology, and/or response to treatment. Males are more susceptible to neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit activity disorder, while women are more prone to major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders after puberty. A striking difference between males and females in humans and other mammals is that males undergo a process of brain masculinization due to the early exposure to gonadal hormones. In rodents, this developmental organization of the brain is essential for adult males to express the appropriate sexual behaviors in the presence of a receptive female. Our goal was to determine whether this process of brain masculinization influences behaviors relevant to psychiatric disorders. To this aim, we studied sex differences and the effect of neonatal 17β-estradiol benzoate treatment of female mice on different disease-relevant behaviors. Our analysis includes postnatal behavior, juvenile play, and adult tests for sociability, repetitive behaviors, anxiety, and depression. Our results show that the sex differences observed in exploration, repetitive behaviors, and depression-related behaviors are largely reduced when females are neonatally treated with 17β-estradiol benzoate. These results suggest a role of neonatal sex steroids in the development of disease-relevant behaviors and provide evidence supporting a role for perinatal exposure to estrogens and androgens on the development and manifestation of psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Araceli Seiffe
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mauro Federico Ramirez
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Claudio Darío Barrios
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Milagros Albarrán
- Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Amaicha Mara Depino
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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64
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Vivanti G, Messinger DS. Theories of Autism and Autism Treatment from the DSM III Through the Present and Beyond: Impact on Research and Practice. J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 51:4309-4320. [PMID: 33491120 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-04887-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The purely descriptive definition of autism introduced by the DSM III in 1980 marked a departure from previous DSM editions, which mixed phenomenological descriptions with psychoanalytic theories of etiology. This provided a blank slate upon which a variety of novel theories emerged to conceptualize autism and its treatment in the following four decades. In this article we examine the contribution of these different theoretical orientations with a focus on their impact on research and practice, areas of overlap and conflict between current theories, and their relevance in the context of the evolving landscape of scientific knowledge and societal views of autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Vivanti
- A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, 3020 Market Street, Suite 560, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| | - Daniel S Messinger
- Departments of Psychology, Pediatrics, Music Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
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65
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Franceschini A, Fattore L. Gender-specific approach in psychiatric diseases: Because sex matters. Eur J Pharmacol 2021; 896:173895. [PMID: 33508283 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.173895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
In both animals and human beings, males and females differ in their genetic background and hormonally driven behaviour and show sex-related differences in brain activity and response to internal and external stimuli. Gender-specific medicine has been a neglected dimension of medicine for long time, and only in the last three decades it is receiving the due scientific and clinical attention. Research has recently begun to identify factors that could provide a neurobiological basis for gender-based differences in health and disease and to point to gonadal hormones as important determinants of male-female differences. Animal studies have been of great help in understanding factors contributing to sex-dependent differences and sex hormones action. Here we review and discuss evidence provided by clinical and animal studies in the last two decades showing gender (in humans) and sex (in animals) differences in selected psychiatric disorders, namely eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder), schizophrenia, mood disorders (anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder) and neurodevelopmental disorders (autism spectrum disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder).
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Franceschini
- Addictive Behaviors Department, Local Health Authority, Trento, Italy
| | - Liana Fattore
- Institute of Neuroscience-Cagliari, National Research Council, Italy.
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66
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Huang ZX, Chen Y, Guo HR, Chen GF. Systematic Review and Bioinformatic Analysis of microRNA Expression in Autism Spectrum Disorder Identifies Pathways Associated With Cancer, Metabolism, Cell Signaling, and Cell Adhesion. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:630876. [PMID: 34744804 PMCID: PMC8566729 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.630876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Previous studies have identified differentially expressed microRNAs in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), however, results are discrepant. We aimed to systematically review this topic and perform bioinformatic analysis to identify genes and pathways associated with ASD miRNAs. Methods: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses, we searched the Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and OVID databases to identify all studies comparing microRNA expressions between ASD persons and non-ASD controls on May 11, 2020. We obtained ASD miRNA targets validated by experimental assays from miRTarBase and performed pathway enrichment analysis using Metascape and DIANA-miRPath v3. 0. Results: Thirty-four studies were included in the systematic review. Among 285 altered miRNAs reported in these studies, 15 were consistently upregulated, 14 were consistently downregulated, and 39 were inconsistently dysregulated. The most frequently altered miRNAs including miR-23a-3p, miR-106b-5p, miR-146a-5p, miR-7-5p, miR-27a-3p, miR-181b-5p, miR-486-3p, and miR-451a. Subgroup analysis of tissues showed that miR-146a-5p, miR-155-5p, miR-1277-3p, miR-21-3p, miR-106b-5p, and miR-451a were consistently upregulated in brain tissues, while miR-4742-3p was consistently downregulated; miR-23b-3p, miR-483-5p, and miR-23a-3p were consistently upregulated in blood samples, while miR-15a-5p, miR-193a-5p, miR-20a-5p, miR-574-3p, miR-92a-3p, miR-3135a, and miR-103a-3p were consistently downregulated; miR-7-5p was consistently upregulated in saliva, miR-23a-3p and miR-32-5p were consistently downregulated. The altered ASD miRNAs identified in at least two independent studies were validated to target many autism risk genes. TNRC6B, PTEN, AGO1, SKI, and SMAD4 were the most frequent targets, and miR-92a-3p had the most target autism risk genes. Pathway enrichment analysis showed that ASD miRNAs are significantly involved in pathways associated with cancer, metabolism (notably Steroid biosynthesis, Fatty acid metabolism, Fatty acid biosynthesis, Lysine degradation, Biotin metabolism), cell cycle, cell signaling (especially Hippo, FoxO, TGF-beta, p53, Thyroid hormone, and Estrogen signaling pathway), adherens junction, extracellular matrix-receptor interaction, and Prion diseases. Conclusions: Altered miRNAs in ASD target autism risk genes and are involved in various ASD-related pathways, some of which are understudied and require further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Xiong Huang
- Department of Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yanhui Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Hong-Ru Guo
- Department of Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Guo-Feng Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
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67
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Enriquez KD, Gupta AR, Hoffman EJ. Signaling Pathways and Sex Differential Processes in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:716673. [PMID: 34690830 PMCID: PMC8531220 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.716673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders associated with deficits in social communication and restrictive, repetitive patterns of behavior, that affect up to 1 in 54 children. ASDs clearly demonstrate a male bias, occurring ~4 times more frequently in males than females, though the basis for this male predominance is not well-understood. In recent years, ASD risk gene discovery has accelerated, with many whole-exome sequencing studies identifying genes that converge on common pathways, such as neuronal communication and regulation of gene expression. ASD genetics studies have suggested that there may be a "female protective effect," such that females may have a higher threshold for ASD risk, yet its etiology is not well-understood. Here, we review common biological pathways implicated by ASD genetics studies as well as recent analyses of sex differential processes in ASD using imaging genomics, transcriptomics, and animal models. Additionally, we discuss recent investigations of ASD risk genes that have suggested a potential role for estrogens as modulators of biological pathways in ASD, and highlight relevant molecular and cellular pathways downstream of estrogen signaling as potential avenues for further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen D Enriquez
- Program on Neurogenetics, Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Abha R Gupta
- Program on Neurogenetics, Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States.,Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Ellen J Hoffman
- Program on Neurogenetics, Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States.,Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
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68
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Worsham W, Dalton S, Bilder DA. The Prenatal Hormone Milieu in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:655438. [PMID: 34276434 PMCID: PMC8280339 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.655438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Though the etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remains largely unknown, recent findings suggest that hormone dysregulation within the prenatal environment, in conjunction with genetic factors, may alter fetal neurodevelopment. Early emphasis has been placed on the potential role of in utero exposure to androgens, particularly testosterone, to theorize ASD as the manifestation of an "extreme male brain." The relationship between autism risk and obstetric conditions associated with inflammation and steroid dysregulation merits a much broader understanding of the in utero steroid environment and its potential influence on fetal neuroendocrine development. The exploration of hormone dysregulation in the prenatal environment and ASD development builds upon prior research publishing associations with obstetric conditions and ASD risk. The insight gained may be applied to the development of chronic adult metabolic diseases that share prenatal risk factors with ASD. Future research directions will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Whitney Worsham
- University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Susan Dalton
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Deborah A Bilder
- Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
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69
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Zhang J, Ma X, Su Y, Wang L, Shang S, Yue W. Association Study of MTHFR C677T Polymorphism and Birth Body Mass With Risk of Autism in Chinese Han Population. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:560948. [PMID: 33716803 PMCID: PMC7947295 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.560948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: To explore the association of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism with birth body mass and risk of autism in Chinese Han population. Methods: A total 1,505 Chinese Han autism patients were recruited, using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th revised version (DSM-IV-R) diagnostic criteria for autism, and 1,308 sex-matched healthy controls were also enrolled for the study. All the participants' birth body masses were counted according to the medical records. The MTHFR C677T genotypes were detected using the polymerase chain reaction-restrict fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. The association between C677T polymorphism, birth body mass, and risk of autism were analyzed using the chi-square tests. Results: The present study found that the MTHFR 677T was significantly associated with risk of autism [P = 0.004, odds ratio (OR) = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.02-1.29). The autism children more frequently showed low birth body mass (<2.5 kg) than healthy control subjects (8.6 vs. 5.3%, P = 0.001, OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.24-2.26). The interactive effects between MTHFR 677T and low birth body mass (P = 0.0001, OR = 2.18, 95% CI = 1.44-3.32) were also significantly associated with risk of autism. Conclusions: The MTHFR C677T polymorphism and low birth body mass may be associated with risk of autism in Chinese Han population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jishui Zhang
- Department of Mental Health, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China
| | - Xueqian Ma
- School of Nursing & Sixth Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Peking University Sixth Hospital, Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China.,National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Research Unit of Diagnosis and Treatment of Mood Cognitive Disorder (2018RU006), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Su
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China.,National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Research Unit of Diagnosis and Treatment of Mood Cognitive Disorder (2018RU006), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lifang Wang
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China.,National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Research Unit of Diagnosis and Treatment of Mood Cognitive Disorder (2018RU006), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shaomei Shang
- School of Nursing, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Weihua Yue
- School of Nursing & Sixth Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Peking University Sixth Hospital, Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China.,National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Research Unit of Diagnosis and Treatment of Mood Cognitive Disorder (2018RU006), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.,PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing, China
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70
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Moraes AB, Giacomini ACVV, Genario R, Marcon L, Scolari N, Bueno BW, Demin KA, Amstislavskaya TG, Strekalova T, Soares MC, de Abreu MS, Kalueff AV. Pro-social and anxiolytic-like behavior following a single 24-h exposure to 17β-estradiol in adult male zebrafish. Neurosci Lett 2020; 747:135591. [PMID: 33359732 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.135591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Estradiol (17β-estradiol, E2) is a crucial estrogen hormone that regulates sexual, cognitive, social and affective behaviors in various species. However, complex central nervous system (CNS) effects of E2, including its activity in males, remain poorly understood. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is rapidly becoming a powerful novel model system in translational neuroscience research. Here, we evaluate the effects of a single 24-h exposure to 20 μg/L of E2 on behavioral and endocrine (cortisol) responses in adult male zebrafish. Overall, E2 exerted pro-social effect in the social preference test, reduced whole-body cortisol levels, elevated exploration in the novel tank test and increased the shoal size in the shoaling test, indicative of an anxiolytic-like profile of this hormone in male zebrafish. Supporting mounting human and rodent evidence on the role of E2 in behavioral regulation, the observed pro-social and anxiolytic-like effects of E2 in male zebrafish reinforce the use of this aquatic organism in studying steroid-mediated CNS mechanisms of complex affective and social behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andréia B Moraes
- Postgraduate Program in Environmental Sciences, University of Passo Fundo (UPF), Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil
| | - Ana C V V Giacomini
- Postgraduate Program in Environmental Sciences, University of Passo Fundo (UPF), Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil; Bioscience Institute, University of Passo Fundo (UPF), Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil
| | - Rafael Genario
- Bioscience Institute, University of Passo Fundo (UPF), Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil
| | - Leticia Marcon
- Bioscience Institute, University of Passo Fundo (UPF), Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil
| | - Naiara Scolari
- Bioscience Institute, University of Passo Fundo (UPF), Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil
| | - Barbara W Bueno
- Bioscience Institute, University of Passo Fundo (UPF), Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil
| | - Konstantin A Demin
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Almazov National Medcial Research Center, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia; Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia; Granov Russian Scientific Research Center of Radiology and Surgical Technologies, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia; Neuroscience Program, Sirius University, Sochi, Russia
| | - Tamara G Amstislavskaya
- Scientific Research Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia; Zelman Institute of Medicine and Psychology, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Tatyana Strekalova
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Netherlands; Laboratory of Psychiatric Neurobiology, Sechenov 1st Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia; Research Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Marta C Soares
- CIBIO, Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Murilo S de Abreu
- The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), Slidell, LA, USA; Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology and Neurobiology, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia; Bioscience Institute, University of Passo Fundo (UPF), Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil.
| | - Allan V Kalueff
- School of Pharmacy, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg, Russia.
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71
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Cheffer A, Flitsch LJ, Krutenko T, Röderer P, Sokhranyaeva L, Iefremova V, Hajo M, Peitz M, Schwarz MK, Brüstle O. Human stem cell-based models for studying autism spectrum disorder-related neuronal dysfunction. Mol Autism 2020; 11:99. [PMID: 33308283 PMCID: PMC7733257 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-020-00383-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The controlled differentiation of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) into neurons and glia offers a unique opportunity to study early stages of human central nervous system development under controlled conditions in vitro. With the advent of cell reprogramming and the possibility to generate induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from any individual in a scalable manner, these studies can be extended to a disease- and patient-specific level. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is considered a neurodevelopmental disorder, with substantial evidence pointing to early alterations in neurogenesis and network formation as key pathogenic drivers. For that reason, ASD represents an ideal candidate for stem cell-based disease modeling. Here, we provide a concise review on recent advances in the field of human iPSC-based modeling of syndromic and non-syndromic forms of ASD, with a particular focus on studies addressing neuronal dysfunction and altered connectivity. We further discuss recent efforts to translate stem cell-based disease modeling to 3D via brain organoid and cell transplantation approaches, which enable the investigation of disease mechanisms in a tissue-like context. Finally, we describe advanced tools facilitating the assessment of altered neuronal function, comment on the relevance of iPSC-based models for the assessment of pharmaceutical therapies and outline potential future routes in stem cell-based ASD research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arquimedes Cheffer
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn Medical Faculty & University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 76, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Lea Jessica Flitsch
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn Medical Faculty & University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 76, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Tamara Krutenko
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn Medical Faculty & University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 76, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Pascal Röderer
- Life & Brain GmbH, Platform Cellomics, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 76, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Liubov Sokhranyaeva
- Institute of Experimental Epileptology and Cognition Research, University of Bonn Medical Faculty & University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 76, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Vira Iefremova
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn Medical Faculty & University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 76, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Mohamad Hajo
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn Medical Faculty & University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 76, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Michael Peitz
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn Medical Faculty & University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 76, 53127, Bonn, Germany
- Life & Brain GmbH, Platform Cellomics, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 76, 53127, Bonn, Germany
- Cell Programming Core Facility, University of Bonn Medical Faculty, Bonn, Germany
| | - Martin Karl Schwarz
- Life & Brain GmbH, Platform Cellomics, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 76, 53127, Bonn, Germany
- Institute of Experimental Epileptology and Cognition Research, University of Bonn Medical Faculty & University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 76, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Oliver Brüstle
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn Medical Faculty & University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 76, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
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Ali AA, Cui X, Pertile RAN, Li X, Medley G, Alexander SA, Whitehouse AJO, McGrath JJ, Eyles DW. Developmental vitamin D deficiency increases foetal exposure to testosterone. Mol Autism 2020; 11:96. [PMID: 33298169 PMCID: PMC7727109 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-020-00399-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental disorders which are more common in males. The ‘prenatal sex steroid’ hypothesis links excessive sex-steroid exposure during foetal life with the behavioural differences observed in ASD. However, the reason why sex steroid exposure may be excessive remains unclear. Epidemiological studies have identified several environmental risk factors associated with ASD, including developmental vitamin D (DVD) deficiency. We have demonstrated in an animal model that DVD-deficiency is associated with a hyper-inflammatory response in placentas from male but not female foetuses. Vitamin D also regulates the expression of several steroidogenic enzymes in vitro. Therefore using this animal model, we have examined whether DVD-deficiency leads to increased sex-steroid levels in both the maternal and foetal compartments. Methods Female rats are fed a vitamin D deficient diet from 6 weeks before mating until tissue collection at embryonic day 18. We examined the levels of testosterone, androstenedione and corticosterone in maternal plasma, foetal brains and amniotic fluid. We further examined gene expressions of steroidogenic enzymes and DNA methylation of aromatase promoters in foetal brains as a potential molecular mechanism regulating testosterone expression. Results We show that DVD-deficiency increases testosterone levels in maternal blood. We also show elevated levels of testosterone and androstenedione in the amniotic fluid of female but not male DVD-deficient foetuses. Testosterone levels were also elevated in DVD-deficient male brains. Vitamin D, like other steroid-related hormones, regulates gene expression via methylation. Therefore we examined whether the significant elevation in testosterone in male brains was due to such a potential gene-silencing mechanism. We show that the promoter of aromatase was hyper-methylated compared to male controls. Limitations A reduction in aromatase, in addition to causing excessive testosterone, could also lead to a reduction in estradiol which was not examined here. Conclusions This study is the first to show how an epidemiologically established environmental risk factor for ASD may selectively elevate testosterone in male embryonic brains. These findings provide further mechanistic support for the prenatal sex steroid theory of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asad Amanat Ali
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Xiaoying Cui
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.,Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, The Park Centre for Mental Health, Wacol, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Xiang Li
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Gregory Medley
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Suzanne Adele Alexander
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.,Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, The Park Centre for Mental Health, Wacol, QLD, Australia
| | - Andrew J O Whitehouse
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - John Joseph McGrath
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.,Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, The Park Centre for Mental Health, Wacol, QLD, Australia.,NCRR-National Centre for Register-Based Research, Department of Economics and Business Economics, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Darryl Walter Eyles
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia. .,Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, The Park Centre for Mental Health, Wacol, QLD, Australia.
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73
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Tsang B, Pritišanac I, Scherer SW, Moses AM, Forman-Kay JD. Phase Separation as a Missing Mechanism for Interpretation of Disease Mutations. Cell 2020; 183:1742-1756. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.11.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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74
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Hu VW, Bi C. Phenotypic Subtyping and Re-analyses of Existing Transcriptomic Data from Autistic Probands in Simplex Families Reveal Differentially Expressed and ASD Trait-Associated Genes. Front Neurol 2020; 11:578972. [PMID: 33281715 PMCID: PMC7689346 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.578972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) describes a collection of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by core symptoms that include social communication deficits and repetitive, stereotyped behaviors often coupled with restricted interests. Primary challenges to understanding and treating ASD are the genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity of cases that complicates all omics analyses as well as a lack of information on relationships among genes, pathways, and autistic traits. In this study, we re-analyze existing transcriptomic data from simplex families by subtyping individuals with ASD according to multivariate cluster analyses of clinical ADI-R scores that encompass a broad range of behavioral symptoms. We also correlate multiple ASD traits, such as deficits in verbal and non-verbal communication, play and social skills, ritualistic behaviors, and savant skills, with expression profiles using Weighted Gene Correlation Network Analyses (WGCNA). Our results show that subtyping greatly enhances the ability to identify differentially expressed genes involved in specific canonical pathways and biological functions associated with ASD within each phenotypic subgroup. Moreover, using WGCNA, we identify gene modules that correlate significantly with specific ASD traits. Network prediction analyses of the genes in these modules reveal canonical pathways as well as neurological functions and disorders relevant to the pathobiology of ASD. Finally, we compare the WGCNA-derived data on autistic traits in simplex families with analogous data from multiplex families using transcriptomic data from our previous studies. The comparison reveals overlapping trait-associated pathways as well as upstream regulators of the module-associated genes that may serve as useful targets for a precision medicine approach to ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie W Hu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Chongfeng Bi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, United States
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75
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Masini E, Loi E, Vega-Benedetti AF, Carta M, Doneddu G, Fadda R, Zavattari P. An Overview of the Main Genetic, Epigenetic and Environmental Factors Involved in Autism Spectrum Disorder Focusing on Synaptic Activity. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21218290. [PMID: 33167418 PMCID: PMC7663950 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21218290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects social interaction and communication, with restricted interests, activity and behaviors. ASD is highly familial, indicating that genetic background strongly contributes to the development of this condition. However, only a fraction of the total number of genes thought to be associated with the condition have been discovered. Moreover, other factors may play an important role in ASD onset. In fact, it has been shown that parental conditions and in utero and perinatal factors may contribute to ASD etiology. More recently, epigenetic changes, including DNA methylation and micro RNA alterations, have been associated with ASD and proposed as potential biomarkers. This review aims to provide a summary of the literature regarding ASD candidate genes, mainly focusing on synapse formation and functionality and relevant epigenetic and environmental aspects acting in concert to determine ASD onset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Masini
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Biology and Genetics, University of Cagliari, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (E.M.); (E.L.); (A.F.V.-B.)
| | - Eleonora Loi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Biology and Genetics, University of Cagliari, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (E.M.); (E.L.); (A.F.V.-B.)
| | - Ana Florencia Vega-Benedetti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Biology and Genetics, University of Cagliari, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (E.M.); (E.L.); (A.F.V.-B.)
| | - Marinella Carta
- Center for Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Azienda Ospedaliera Brotzu, 09121 Cagliari, Italy;
| | - Giuseppe Doneddu
- Centro per l’Autismo e Disturbi correlati (CADc), Nuovo Centro Fisioterapico Sardo, 09131 Cagliari, Italy;
| | - Roberta Fadda
- Department of Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy;
| | - Patrizia Zavattari
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Biology and Genetics, University of Cagliari, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (E.M.); (E.L.); (A.F.V.-B.)
- Correspondence:
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76
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Kassee C, Babinski S, Tint A, Lunsky Y, Brown HK, Ameis SH, Szatmari P, Lai MC, Einstein G. Physical health of autistic girls and women: a scoping review. Mol Autism 2020; 11:84. [PMID: 33109257 PMCID: PMC7590704 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-020-00380-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There is a growing recognition of sex and gender influences in autism. Increasingly, studies include comparisons between sexes or genders, but few have focused on clarifying the characteristics of autistic girls’/women’s physical health. Methods A scoping review was conducted to determine what is currently known about the physical health of autistic girls/women. We screened 1112 unique articles, with 40 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. We used a convergent iterative process to synthesize this content into broad thematic areas. Results Autistic girls/women experience more overall physical health challenges compared to non-autistic girls/women and to autistic boys/men. Emerging evidence suggests increased prevalence of epilepsy in autistic girls/women compared to non-autistic girls/women and to autistic boys/men. The literature also suggests increased endocrine and reproductive health conditions in autistic girls/women compared to non-autistic girls/women. Findings regarding gastrointestinal, metabolic, nutritional, and immune-related conditions are preliminary and inconsistent. Limitations The literature has substantial heterogeneity in how physical health conditions were assessed and reported. Further, our explicit focus on physical health may have constrained the ability to examine interactions between mental and physical health. The widely differing research aims and methodologies make it difficult to reach definitive conclusions. Nevertheless, in keeping with the goals of a scoping review, we were able to identify key themes to guide future research. Conclusions The emerging literature suggests that autistic girls/women have heightened rates of physical health challenges compared to non-autistic girls/women and to autistic boys/men. Clinicians should seek to provide holistic care that includes a focus on physical health and develop a women’s health lens when providing clinical care to autistic girls/women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Kassee
- The Margaret and Wallace McCain Centre for Child, Youth and Family Mental Health, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 80 Workman Way, Toronto, ON, M6J 1H4, Canada.,Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Stephanie Babinski
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Sociology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Ami Tint
- The Margaret and Wallace McCain Centre for Child, Youth and Family Mental Health, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 80 Workman Way, Toronto, ON, M6J 1H4, Canada.,Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada
| | - Yona Lunsky
- Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Hilary K Brown
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Health and Society, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Canada
| | - Stephanie H Ameis
- The Margaret and Wallace McCain Centre for Child, Youth and Family Mental Health, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 80 Workman Way, Toronto, ON, M6J 1H4, Canada.,Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Peter Szatmari
- The Margaret and Wallace McCain Centre for Child, Youth and Family Mental Health, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 80 Workman Way, Toronto, ON, M6J 1H4, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Meng-Chuan Lai
- The Margaret and Wallace McCain Centre for Child, Youth and Family Mental Health, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 80 Workman Way, Toronto, ON, M6J 1H4, Canada. .,Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada. .,Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. .,Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada. .,Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. .,Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. .,Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Gillian Einstein
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Tema Genus, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Hospital, Toronto, Canada
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77
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Wilson HA, Creighton C, Scharfman H, Choleris E, MacLusky NJ. Endocrine Insights into the Pathophysiology of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Neuroscientist 2020; 27:650-667. [PMID: 32912048 DOI: 10.1177/1073858420952046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a class of neurodevelopmental disorders that affects males more frequently than females. Numerous genetic and environmental risk factors have been suggested to contribute to the development of ASD. However, no one factor can adequately explain either the frequency of the disorder or the male bias in its prevalence. Gonadal, thyroid, and glucocorticoid hormones all contribute to normal development of the brain, hence perturbations in either their patterns of secretion or their actions may constitute risk factors for ASD. Environmental factors may contribute to ASD etiology by influencing the development of neuroendocrine and neuroimmune systems during early life. Emerging evidence suggests that the placenta may be particularly important as a mediator of the actions of environmental and endocrine risk factors on the developing brain, with the male being particularly sensitive to these effects. Understanding how various risk factors integrate to influence neural development may facilitate a clearer understanding of the etiology of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley A Wilson
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Carolyn Creighton
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Helen Scharfman
- Departments of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Neuroscience & Physiology, and Psychiatry, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA.,Center for Dementia Research, The Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA
| | - Elena Choleris
- Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Neil J MacLusky
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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78
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Warrier V, Greenberg DM, Weir E, Buckingham C, Smith P, Lai MC, Allison C, Baron-Cohen S. Elevated rates of autism, other neurodevelopmental and psychiatric diagnoses, and autistic traits in transgender and gender-diverse individuals. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3959. [PMID: 32770077 PMCID: PMC7415151 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17794-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
It is unclear whether transgender and gender-diverse individuals have elevated rates of autism diagnosis or traits related to autism compared to cisgender individuals in large non-clinic-based cohorts. To investigate this, we use five independently recruited cross-sectional datasets consisting of 641,860 individuals who completed information on gender, neurodevelopmental and psychiatric diagnoses including autism, and measures of traits related to autism (self-report measures of autistic traits, empathy, systemizing, and sensory sensitivity). Compared to cisgender individuals, transgender and gender-diverse individuals have, on average, higher rates of autism, other neurodevelopmental and psychiatric diagnoses. For both autistic and non-autistic individuals, transgender and gender-diverse individuals score, on average, higher on self-report measures of autistic traits, systemizing, and sensory sensitivity, and, on average, lower on self-report measures of empathy. The results may have clinical implications for improving access to mental health care and tailoring adequate support for transgender and gender-diverse individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varun Warrier
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, 18B Trumpington Road, Cambridge, CB2 8AH, UK.
| | - David M Greenberg
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, 18B Trumpington Road, Cambridge, CB2 8AH, UK
- Interdisciplinary Department of Social Sciences and Department of Music, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 5290002, Israel
| | - Elizabeth Weir
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, 18B Trumpington Road, Cambridge, CB2 8AH, UK
| | - Clara Buckingham
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, 18B Trumpington Road, Cambridge, CB2 8AH, UK
| | - Paula Smith
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, 18B Trumpington Road, Cambridge, CB2 8AH, UK
| | - Meng-Chuan Lai
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, 18B Trumpington Road, Cambridge, CB2 8AH, UK
- Child and Youth Mental Health Collaborative, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 80 Workman Way, Toronto, ON, M6J 1H4, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, No. 7, Zhongshan South Rd., Taipei, 10002, Taiwan
| | - Carrie Allison
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, 18B Trumpington Road, Cambridge, CB2 8AH, UK
| | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, 18B Trumpington Road, Cambridge, CB2 8AH, UK.
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79
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Zhou CL, Xu GF, Yang Q, Wang HH, Guo MX, Xiong YM, Guo XY, Hou M, Jin LY, Sheng JZ, He L, Jin L, Huang HF. Diminished verbal ability among children conceived through ART with exposure to high serum estradiol in utero. J Assist Reprod Genet 2020; 37:1931-1938. [PMID: 32519010 PMCID: PMC7468024 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-020-01835-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Higher serum estradiol levels occur in women undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) owing to ovarian stimulation. Here, we investigated the association between maternal serum estradiol levels and the intellectual development of offspring conceived with ART. Methods A total of 204 singletons born after fresh embryo transfer were recruited for this cohort study. Among them, 102 children were born from mothers with high serum estradiol levels (> 12,000 pmol/L) on the day that human chorionic gonadotropin was administered. Another 102 children, matched by gestational age and age of the children, were recruited as controls from mothers with low serum estradiol (≤ 12,000 pmol/L). The Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence was used to evaluate the intellectual development of the children. Results Children from mothers with higher serum estradiol levels scored lower in the verbal intelligence quotient (IQ) tests and verbal comprehension than children whose mothers had lower estradiol levels. The main difference between the two groups was in verbal subtests including information, vocabulary, and sorting. Partial correlation analysis revealed that the logarithm of maternal serum estradiol level negatively correlated with verbal IQ, performance IQ, and full scale IQ. Conclusion Our data demonstrate that a high maternal serum estradiol level may negatively associate the verbal ability of children conceived via ART.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Liang Zhou
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Huashan Rd. 1961, Shanghai, 200030, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Gu-Feng Xu
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qian Yang
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Huashan Rd. 1961, Shanghai, 200030, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui-Hui Wang
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Huashan Rd. 1961, Shanghai, 200030, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Meng-Xi Guo
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Huashan Rd. 1961, Shanghai, 200030, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi-Meng Xiong
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Huashan Rd. 1961, Shanghai, 200030, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Guo
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Min Hou
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Huashan Rd. 1961, Shanghai, 200030, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Lu-Yang Jin
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jian-Zhong Sheng
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lin He
- Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Jin
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Huashan Rd. 1961, Shanghai, 200030, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China.
| | - He-Feng Huang
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Huashan Rd. 1961, Shanghai, 200030, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
- Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
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Procyshyn TL, Lombardo MV, Lai MC, Auyeung B, Crockford SK, Deakin J, Soubramanian S, Sule A, Baron-Cohen S, Bethlehem RAI. Effects of oxytocin administration on salivary sex hormone levels in autistic and neurotypical women. Mol Autism 2020; 11:20. [PMID: 32188502 PMCID: PMC7079504 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-020-00326-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Oxytocin administration, which may be of therapeutic value for individuals with social difficulties, is likely to affect endogenous levels of other socially relevant hormones. However, to date, the effects of oxytocin administration on endogenous hormones have only been examined in neurotypical individuals. The need to consider multi-hormone interactions is particularly warranted in oxytocin trials for autism due to evidence of irregularities in both oxytocin and sex steroid systems. Methods In this double-blind cross-over study, saliva samples were collected from 16 autistic and 29 neurotypical women before and after intranasal administration of 24 IU oxytocin or placebo. Oestradiol, testosterone, and oxytocin levels were quantified in saliva samples. Participants also completed the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and Empathy Quotient (EQ) questionnaires. Results Distinct patterns of change in testosterone and oestradiol levels pre- to-post-administration were observed in autistic relative to neurotypical women (ANCOVA, p < 0.05 main effect of Group), controlling for sample collection time. The mean percent change oestradiol was + 8.8% for the autism group and − 13.0% for the neurotypical group (t = 1.81, p = 0.08), while the mean percent change testosterone was + 1.1% in the autism group and − 12.6% in the neurotypical group (t = 1.26, p = 0.22). In the oxytocin condition, the mean percent change oestradiol was + 12.6% in the autism group and − 6.9% in the neurotypical group (t = 1.78, p = 0.08), while the mean percent change testosterone was + 14.4% in the autism group and − 15.2% in the neurotypical group (t = 3.00, p = 0.006). Robust regression confirmed that group differences in percent change hormone levels were not driven by a small number of influential individuals. Baseline hormone levels did not differ between groups when considered individually. However, baseline testosterone relative to oestradiol (T:E2 ratio) was higher in autistic women (p = 0.023, Cohen’s d = 0.63), and this ratio correlated positively and negatively with AQ and EQ scores, respectively, in the combined sample. Limitations Further studies with larger and more diverse autistic sample are warranted to confirm these effects. Conclusions This study provides the first evidence that oxytocin influences endogenous testosterone levels in autistic individuals, with autistic women showing increases similar to previous reports of neurotypical men. These findings highlight the need to consider sex steroid hormones as a variable in future oxytocin trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya L Procyshyn
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, 18b Trumpington Road, Cambridge, CB2 8AH, UK.
| | - Michael V Lombardo
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, 18b Trumpington Road, Cambridge, CB2 8AH, UK.,Laboratory for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Meng-Chuan Lai
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, 18b Trumpington Road, Cambridge, CB2 8AH, UK.,Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Bonnie Auyeung
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, 18b Trumpington Road, Cambridge, CB2 8AH, UK.,Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sarah K Crockford
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, 18b Trumpington Road, Cambridge, CB2 8AH, UK.,Section of Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - J Deakin
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - S Soubramanian
- South West London and St. George's Mental Health NHS Trust, London, UK.,Liaison Psychiatry Service, St Helier Hospital, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, Surrey, UK
| | - A Sule
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, 18b Trumpington Road, Cambridge, CB2 8AH, UK
| | - Richard A I Bethlehem
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, 18b Trumpington Road, Cambridge, CB2 8AH, UK.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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81
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Day DB, Collett BR, Barrett ES, Bush NR, Swan SH, Wang C, Sathyanarayana S. Prenatal sex hormones and behavioral outcomes in children. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 113:104547. [PMID: 31901731 PMCID: PMC7759302 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.104547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Revised: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Abnormal sex hormone levels in utero have been associated with child behavioral problems, but it is unclear if normal variation in prenatal sex hormones is associated with subsequent behavior in childhood. We assessed maternal sex hormones, including serum estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), free testosterone (FT), and total testosterone (TT), during early pregnancy (gestational week 6-21 (mean = 11.1)) and evaluated child behavior at ages 4-5 using the Behavioral Assessment System for Children (BASC-2) and Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS-2) in 404 mother/child pairs (211 girls, 193 boys) within The Infant Development and Environment Study, a multi-site pregnancy cohort study. Associations between hormones and composite scores were evaluated using multiple linear regressions in both sexes combined, and separate models assessed effect modification by sex with the addition of interaction terms. A 10-fold increase in maternal FT or TT was associated in both sexes with a 4.3-point (95 % CI: 0.5, 8.2) or 4.4-point (0.8, 8.0) higher BASC-2 internalizing composite T score, respectively. In addition, a 10-fold increase in FT or TT was associated with a 3.8-point (0.04, 7.5) or 4.0-point (0.5, 7.5) higher behavioral symptoms index composite score. In models evaluating effect modification by sex, a 10-fold increase in E1 was associated with a 4.3-point (1.2, 7.4) decrease in adaptive skills composite score in girls only (interaction p = 0.04). We observed associations between testosterone and internalizing behaviors and behavioral symptoms index in both sexes, as well as a female-specific association between E1 and adaptive skills. Sex hormones during pregnancy may play a key role in influencing later-life behavior, and additional studies should further examine different periods of susceptibility to hormonal signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drew B Day
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States.
| | - Brent R Collett
- Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA,University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | | | - Nicole R Bush
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Shanna H Swan
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Christina Wang
- Lundquist Institute, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA
| | - Sheela Sathyanarayana
- Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA,University of Washington, Seattle, WA
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82
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Happé F, Frith U. Annual Research Review: Looking back to look forward - changes in the concept of autism and implications for future research. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2020; 61:218-232. [PMID: 31994188 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The concept of autism is a significant contribution from child psychiatry that has entered wider culture and public consciousness, and has evolved significantly over the last four decades. Taking a rather personal retrospective, reflecting on our own time in autism research, this review explores changes in the concept of autism and the implications of these for future research. We focus on seven major changes in how autism is thought of, operationalised, and recognised: (1) from a narrow definition to wide diagnostic criteria; (2) from a rare to a relatively common condition, although probably still under-recognised in women; (3) from something affecting children, to a lifelong condition; (4) from something discreet and distinct, to a dimensional view; (5) from one thing to many 'autisms', and a compound or 'fractionable' condition; (6) from a focus on 'pure' autism, to recognition that complexity and comorbidity is the norm; and finally, (7) from conceptualising autism purely as a 'developmental disorder', to recognising a neurodiversity perspective, operationalised in participatory research models. We conclude with some challenges for the field and suggestions for areas currently neglected in autism research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Happé
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Uta Frith
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK
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83
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Malatesta G, Marzoli D, Apicella F, Abiuso C, Muratori F, Forrester GS, Vallortigara G, Scattoni ML, Tommasi L. Received Cradling Bias During the First Year of Life: A Retrospective Study on Children With Typical and Atypical Development. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:91. [PMID: 32174855 PMCID: PMC7056836 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A population-level left cradling bias exists whereby 60-90% of mothers hold their infants on the left side. This left biased positioning appears to be mutually beneficial to both the mother and the baby's brain organization for processing of socio-emotional stimuli. Previous research connected cradling asymmetries and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), entailing impairment in socio-communicative relationships and characterized by an early hypo-lateralization of brain functions. In this explorative study, we aimed to provide a contribution to the retrospective investigations by looking for early behavioral markers of neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASD. We hypothesized that an atypical trajectory in maternal cradling might be one of the possible signs of an interference in mother-infant socio-emotional communication, and thus of potential neurodevelopmental dysfunctions. To this aim, we examined photos depicting mother-child early cradling interactions by consulting family albums of 27 children later diagnosed with ASD and 63 typically developing children. As regards the first half of the first year of life, no differences were shown between maternal cradling-side preferences in typical and ASD groups, both exhibiting the left-cradling bias in the 0-3 months period, but not in the 3-6 months period. However, our results show dissimilar patterns of cradling preferences during the second half of the first year of life. In particular, the absence of left-cradling shown in typical mothers was not observed in ASD mothers, who exhibited a significant left-cradling bias in the 6-12 months age group. This difference might reflect the fact that mother-infant relationship involving children later diagnosed with ASD might remain "basic" because mothers experience a lack of social activity in such children. Alternatively, it may reflect the overstimulation in which mothers try to engage infants in response to their lack of responsiveness and social initiative. However, further investigations are needed both to distinguish between these two possibilities and to define the role of early typical and reversed cradling experiences on neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianluca Malatesta
- Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, University “G. d'Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Daniele Marzoli
- Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, University “G. d'Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | | | | | - Filippo Muratori
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Gillian S. Forrester
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Maria Luisa Scattoni
- Research Coordination and Support Service, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Tommasi
- Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, University “G. d'Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
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84
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Wilson HA, Martin ER, Howes C, Wasson CS, Newman AE, Choleris E, MacLusky NJ. Low dose prenatal testosterone exposure decreases the corticosterone response to stress in adult male, but not female, mice. Brain Res 2020; 1729:146613. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2019.146613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Revised: 12/08/2019] [Accepted: 12/14/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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