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Slykerman R, Davies N, Fuad M, Dekker J. Milk Fat Globule Membranes for Mental Health across the Human Lifespan. Foods 2024; 13:1631. [PMID: 38890860 PMCID: PMC11171857 DOI: 10.3390/foods13111631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) contains bioactive proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. Polar lipids found in the MFGM play a critical role in maintaining cell membrane integrity and neuronal signalling capacity, thereby supporting brain health. This review summarises the literature on the MFGM and its phospholipid constituents for improvement of mental health across three key stages of the human lifespan, i.e., infancy, adulthood, and older age. MFGM supplementation may improve mental health by reducing neuroinflammation and supporting neurotransmitter synthesis through the gut-brain axis. Fortification of infant formula with MFGMs is designed to mimic the composition of breastmilk and optimise early gut and central nervous system development. Early behavioural and emotional development sets the stage for future mental health. In adults, promising results suggest that MFGMs can reduce the negative consequences of situational stress. Preclinical models of age-related cognitive decline suggest a role for the MFGM in supporting brain health in older age and reducing depressive symptoms. While there is preclinical and clinical evidence to support the use of MFGM supplementation for improved mental health, human studies with mental health as the primary target outcome are sparce. Further high-quality clinical trials examining the potential of the MFGM for psychological health improvement are important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Slykerman
- Department of Psychological Medicine, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand;
| | - Naomi Davies
- Department of Psychological Medicine, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand;
| | - Maher Fuad
- Fonterra Cooperative Group Limited, Palmerston North 4472, New Zealand; (M.F.); (J.D.)
| | - James Dekker
- Fonterra Cooperative Group Limited, Palmerston North 4472, New Zealand; (M.F.); (J.D.)
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Amnuaylojaroen T, Parasin N, Saokaew S. Exploring the association between early-life air pollution exposure and autism spectrum disorders in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Reprod Toxicol 2024; 125:108582. [PMID: 38556115 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2024.108582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
The objective of this meta-analysis is to investigate the association between air pollution and the vulnerability of children to autism spectrum disorders (ASD). A thorough examination and analysis of data obtained from a compilation of 14 studies was undertaken, with a particular emphasis on investigating the effects of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), oxide of nitrogen (NOx), ozone (O3), and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) on individuals diagnosed with ASD. The findings demonstrate a moderate association between exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ASD, as indicated by a combined odds ratio (OR) of 1.13 and a 95% confidence interval (CI) spanning from 0.77 to 1.549. O3 shows a combined odds ratio (OR) of 0.82, along with a 95% confidence interval (CI) ranging from 0.49 to 1.14. NOx shows a moderate level of heterogeneity (I² = 75.9%, p = 0.002), suggesting that the impact of NOx on the risk of ASD. There is a statistically significant relationship between exposure to O3 and ASD, although the strength of this relationship is diminished. The findings demonstrated a noteworthy correlation between exposure to PM10 and PM2.5 and the occurrence of ASD. The study found a significant correlation, in relation to PM2.5, with a combined odds ratio (OR) of 1.22 and a 95% confidence interval (CI) ranging from 1.11 to 1.34. The findings have significant implications for the formulation of programs aimed at reducing exposure to harmful chemicals, especially among vulnerable groups such as children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teerachai Amnuaylojaroen
- School of Energy and Environment, University of Phayao, Phayao 56000, Thailand; Atmospheric Pollution and Climate Change Research Units, School of Energy and Environment, University of Phayao, Phayao 56000, Thailand.
| | - Nichapa Parasin
- School of Allied Health Science, University of Phayao, Phayao 56000, Thailand
| | - Surasak Saokaew
- Division of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Care, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Phayao, Phayao 56000, Thailand; Unit of Excellence on Clinical Outcomes Research and Integration (UNICORN), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Phayao, Phayao 56000, Thailand; Center of Health Outcomes Research and Therapeutic Safety (Cohorts), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Phayao, Phayao 56000, Thailand
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Ghahari N, Yousefian F, Najafi E. Prenatal exposure to ambient air pollution and autism spectrum disorders: Results from a family‐based case‐control study. JCPP ADVANCES 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/jcv2.12129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nima Ghahari
- Centre for Health Services Research Faculty of Medicine University of Queensland Brisbane Queensland Australia
- Department of Survey Engineering Faculty of Civil Engineering Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University Tehran Iran
| | - Fatemeh Yousefian
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering Faculty of Health Kashan University of Medical Sciences Kashan Iran
| | - Ehsan Najafi
- Department of Survey Engineering Faculty of Civil Engineering Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University Tehran Iran
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Assessment of a combination of plasma anti-histone autoantibodies and PLA2/PE ratio as potential biomarkers to clinically predict autism spectrum disorders. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13359. [PMID: 35922658 PMCID: PMC9349315 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17533-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficiencies in social interaction and repetitive behaviors. Multiple studies have reported abnormal cell membrane composition and autoimmunity as known mechanisms associated with the etiopathogenesis of ASD. In this study, multiple regression and combined receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve as statistic tools were done to clarify the relationship between phospholipase A2 and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) ratio (PLA2/PE) as marker of lipid metabolism and membrane fluidity, and antihistone-autoantibodies as marker of autoimmunity in the etiopathology of ASD. Furthermore, the study intended to define the linear combination that maximizes the partial area under an ROC curve for a panel of markers. Forty five children with ASD and forty age- and sex-matched controls were enrolled in the study. Using ELISA, the levels of antihistone-autoantibodies, and PLA2 were measured in the plasma of both groups. PE was measured using HPLC. Statistical analyses using ROC curves and multiple and logistic regression models were performed. A notable rise in the area under the curve was detected using combined ROC curve models. Additionally, higher specificity and sensitivity of the combined markers were documented. The present study indicates that the measurement of the predictive value of selected biomarkers related to autoimmunity and lipid metabolism in children with ASD using a ROC curve analysis should lead to a better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanism of ASD and its link with metabolism. This information may enable the early diagnosis and intervention.
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Immune Dysregulation in Autism Spectrum Disorder: What Do We Know about It? Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063033. [PMID: 35328471 PMCID: PMC8955336 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of complex multifactorial neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by a wide and variable set of neuropsychiatric symptoms, including deficits in social communication, narrow and restricted interests, and repetitive behavior. The immune hypothesis is considered to be a major factor contributing to autism pathogenesis, as well as a way to explain the differences of the clinical phenotypes and comorbidities influencing disease course and severity. Evidence highlights a link between immune dysfunction and behavioral traits in autism from several types of evidence found in both cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral blood and their utility to identify autistic subgroups with specific immunophenotypes; underlying behavioral symptoms are also shown. This review summarizes current insights into immune dysfunction in ASD, with particular reference to the impact of immunological factors related to the maternal influence of autism development; comorbidities influencing autism disease course and severity; and others factors with particular relevance, including obesity. Finally, we described main elements of similarities between immunopathology overlapping neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, taking as examples autism and Parkinson Disease, respectively.
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Meng W, Huan Y, Gao Y. Urinary proteome profiling for children with autism using data-independent acquisition proteomics. Transl Pediatr 2021; 10:1765-1778. [PMID: 34430425 PMCID: PMC8349970 DOI: 10.21037/tp-21-193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder. Objective and reliable biomarkers are crucial for the clinical diagnosis of autism. Urine can accumulate early changes of the whole body and is a sensitive source for disease biomarkers. METHODS The data-independent acquisition (DIA) strategy was used to identify differential proteins in the urinary proteome between autistic and non-autistic children aged 3-7 years. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were developed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of differential proteins. RESULTS A total of 118 differential proteins were identified in the urine between autistic and non-autistic children, of which 18 proteins were reported to be related to autism. Randomized grouping statistical analysis indicated that 91.5% of the differential proteins were reliable. Functional analysis revealed that some differential proteins were associated with axonal guidance signaling, endocannabinoid developing neuron pathway, synaptic long-term depression, agrin interactions at neuromuscular junction, phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) signaling and synaptogenesis signaling pathway. The combination of cadherin-related family member 5 (CDHR5) and vacuolar protein sorting-associated protein 4B (VPS4B) showed the best discriminative performance between autistic and non-autistic children with an area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.987. CONCLUSIONS The urinary proteome could distinguish between autistic children and non-autistic children. This study will provide a promising approach for future biomarker research of neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenshu Meng
- Gene Engineering Drug and Biotechnology Beijing Key Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuhang Huan
- Gene Engineering Drug and Biotechnology Beijing Key Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Youhe Gao
- Gene Engineering Drug and Biotechnology Beijing Key Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The purpose of this report is to review recent research findings on APS in children and neonates. RECENT FINDINGS European evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of pediatric APS has recently been published by the SHARE Initiative. Recent studies have shown a high prevalence of non-thrombotic manifestations in children with aPL, domains 4/5 specificity of 'innocent' anti-β2GPI antibodies in infants, and a higher risk for developmental delays and learning disabilities, hence, the need for neurodevelopmental monitoring in children born to mothers with APS. An International effort on creating a new diagnostic criteria for APS is underway. Pediatric APS is a rare disease with significant differences from the APS in adults. Majority of the children with persistently positive aPL do not develop thrombotic events; however, relatively higher proportion of thrombosis in children is related to aPL positivity compared to adults; this may partly be due to the absence of common pro-thrombotic "second-hit" risk factors of adults such as atherosclerosis and cigarette smoking. Diagnosis of APS in children may be delayed or missed when adult APS criteria are used, because in pediatric APS, non-thrombotic clinical manifestations such as thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, and neurological disorders such as migraine, epilepsy, and chorea may precede thrombotic manifestations. Around 20% of the children initially diagnosed with primary APS eventually develop SLE. Neonatal APS is rare; however, the offspring of mothers with APS are at a higher risk for developmental delays and learning disabilities; prematurity and IUGR may increase this risk. Regular assessment of neurodevelopmental status of these children should be performed. Thrombosis is a rare event in the offspring of mothers with APS; anticoagulation of such infants is not recommended. An international effort to create a new diagnostic criteria for APS is underway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arzu Soybilgic
- Pediatric Rheumatology, Children's Hospital of University of Illinois, 840 S. Wood St, 1206 CSB, Chicago, 60612, USA.
| | - Tadej Avcin
- Department of Allergology, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Children's Hospital, University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Bohoriceva 20, 1525, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Yu Q, He Z, Zubkov D, Huang S, Kurochkin I, Yang X, Halene T, Willmitzer L, Giavalisco P, Akbarian S, Khaitovich P. Lipidome alterations in human prefrontal cortex during development, aging, and cognitive disorders. Mol Psychiatry 2020; 25:2952-2969. [PMID: 30089790 PMCID: PMC7577858 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-018-0200-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Revised: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Lipids are essential to brain functions, yet they remain largely unexplored. Here we investigated the lipidome composition of prefrontal cortex gray matter in 396 cognitively healthy individuals with ages spanning 100 years, as well as 67 adult individuals diagnosed with autism (ASD), schizophrenia (SZ), and Down syndrome (DS). Of the 5024 detected lipids, 95% showed significant age-dependent concentration differences clustering into four temporal stages, and resulting in a gradual increase in membrane fluidity in individuals ranging from newborn to nonagenarian. Aging affects 14% of the brain lipidome with late-life changes starting predominantly at 50-55 years of age-a period of general metabolic transition. All three diseases alter the brain lipidome composition, leading-among other things-to a concentration decrease in glycerophospholipid metabolism and endocannabinoid signaling pathways. Lipid concentration decreases in SZ were further linked to genetic variants associated with disease, indicating the relevance of the lipidome changes to disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianhui Yu
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031 China ,grid.419092.70000 0004 0467 2285CAS Key Laboratory of Compstudy has been deposited in the National Omics Datautational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, SIBS, CAS, Shanghai, 200031 China
| | - Zhisong He
- grid.419092.70000 0004 0467 2285CAS Key Laboratory of Compstudy has been deposited in the National Omics Datautational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, SIBS, CAS, Shanghai, 200031 China ,grid.454320.40000 0004 0555 3608Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, 143028 Russia
| | - Dmitry Zubkov
- grid.454320.40000 0004 0555 3608Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, 143028 Russia
| | - Shuyun Huang
- grid.419092.70000 0004 0467 2285CAS Key Laboratory of Compstudy has been deposited in the National Omics Datautational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, SIBS, CAS, Shanghai, 200031 China ,grid.440637.20000 0004 4657 8879ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 200031 China
| | - Ilia Kurochkin
- grid.454320.40000 0004 0555 3608Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, 143028 Russia
| | - Xiaode Yang
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031 China ,grid.419092.70000 0004 0467 2285CAS Key Laboratory of Compstudy has been deposited in the National Omics Datautational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, SIBS, CAS, Shanghai, 200031 China
| | - Tobias Halene
- grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Department of Psychiatry and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029 USA
| | - Lothar Willmitzer
- grid.418390.70000 0004 0491 976XMax Planck Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, Potsdam, 14476 Germany
| | - Patrick Giavalisco
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, Potsdam, 14476, Germany.
| | - Schahram Akbarian
- Department of Psychiatry and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
| | - Philipp Khaitovich
- Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, 143028, Russia. .,ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 200031, China. .,Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, 04103, Germany. .,Comparative Biology Group, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, SIBS, CAS, Shanghai, 200031, China.
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Geng R, Fang S, Li G. The association between particulate matter 2.5 exposure and children with autism spectrum disorder. Int J Dev Neurosci 2019; 75:59-63. [PMID: 31078619 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2019.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Revised: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Particulate matter (PM) as an environmental pollutant is suspected to be associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The aim of this study was to assess whether exposures to PM2.5 during the first three years of life in relation to the risk and degree of the severity of ASD. METHODS A total of two hundred and ninety-seven 3-6 years old Chinese children (99 confirmed autism cases and 198 their age-gender matched control subjects) were included. Children's exposures to PM2.5 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm) during the first three years after birth were estimated. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the PM2.5-ASD association. RESULTS The mean levels of PM2.5 exposures in ASD and typical developmental children during the first three years of life were 89.8[standard deviations (SD): 6.1] μg/m3 and 87.3(6.6) μg/m3, respectively (p = 0.002). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between the serum levels of PM2.5 and the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) score indicating severity of autism (r = 0.259; p = 0.010). Based on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the optimal cutoff value of PM2.5 levels as an indicator for auxiliary diagnosis of ASD was projected to be 89.5ug/m3, which yielded a sensitivity of 65.4% and a specificity of 63.2%, with the area under the curve at 0.61 (95% confidence intervals [CIs], 0.54-0.68; P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis models were used to assess ASD risk according to PM2.5 quartiles (the lowest quartile [Q1] as the reference), with the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) (95% CIs) were recorded. As shown in the Table 2, the 3rd and 4th quartile of PM2.5 were compared against the Q1, and the risks were increased by 103% (OR = 2.03; 95%CI: 1.13-5.54; p = 0.015) and 311% (4.15; 2.04-9.45; p = 0.002), respectively. CONCLUSIONS To conclude, the evidence from this study allowed us to conclude that there was an association between PM2.5 exposure and ASD risk and severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruihua Geng
- Department of Pediatrics, People's Hospital of Kenli District, Dongying City, Shandong Province, 257500, China
| | - Suqin Fang
- Department of Pediatrics, People's Hospital of Kenli District, Dongying City, Shandong Province, 257500, China
| | - Guizhi Li
- Department of Pediatrics, People's Hospital of Kenli District, Dongying City, Shandong Province, 257500, China.
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Prata J, Machado AS, von Doellinger O, Almeida MI, Barbosa MA, Coelho R, Santos SG. The Contribution of Inflammation to Autism Spectrum Disorders: Recent Clinical Evidence. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 2011:493-510. [PMID: 31273718 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9554-7_29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Autism comprises a complex and heterogeneous spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders, usually termed autism spectrum disorders (ASD). It is more prevalent in males than females, and genetic and environmental factors are believed to account in similar percentages to the development of ASD. In recent years, the contribution of inflammation and inflammatory mediators to disease aetiology and perpetuation has been the object of intense research. In this chapter, inflammatory aspects that contribute to ASD are discussed, including abnormal microglia activation and polarization phenotypes, increased systemic levels of pro-inflammatory mediators, and altered patterns of immune cell response to activation stimuli. Also, inflammation in the context of gut microbiome and the impact of inflammation on gender prevalence of ASD are considered. Finally, treatment impact on inflammatory parameters and the potential for use of anti-inflammatory drugs, alone or in combination with antipsychotics, to manage ASD are examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Prata
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- FMUP-Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Centro Hospitalar Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
| | - A S Machado
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- FMUP-Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Centro Hospitalar UniversitÃrio São João, Porto, Portugal
| | - O von Doellinger
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- FMUP-Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Centro Hospitalar do Tâmega e Sousa, Penafiel, Portugal
| | - M I Almeida
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- INEB-Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - M A Barbosa
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- INEB-Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS-Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - R Coelho
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- FMUP-Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Centro Hospitalar UniversitÃrio São João, Porto, Portugal
| | - S G Santos
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
- INEB-Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
- ICBAS-Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
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Tzang RF, Chang CH, Chang YC, Lane HY. Autism Associated With Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis: Glutamate-Related Therapy. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:440. [PMID: 31293459 PMCID: PMC6598425 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this review is to correlate autism with autoimmune dysfunction in the absence of an explanation for the etiology of autism spectrum disorder. The anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) autoantibody is a typical synaptic protein that can bind to synaptic NMDA glutamate receptors, leading to dysfunctional glutamate neurotransmission in the brain that manifests as psychiatric symptoms (psychosis, hallucinations, and personality changes). Detection of autoantibodies, cytokines, decreased lymphocytes, serum immunoglobulin level imbalance, T-cell mediated immune profile, maternal infection history, and children's infection history can all be vital biological markers of autoimmune autism. Diagnosing autoimmune encephalitis sooner can increase the effectiveness of curative treatments-such as immune therapy or immune modulatory therapy-that may prevent the long-term consequence of being misdiagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Glutamate therapy primarily normalizes glutamate neurotransmission and can be a new add-on intervention alongside antipsychotics for treating autoimmune autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruu-Fen Tzang
- Department of Psychiatry, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Mackay Medicine, Nursing and Management College, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chuan-Hsin Chang
- Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yue-Cune Chang
- Department of Mathematics, Tamkang University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsien-Yuan Lane
- Department of Psychiatry, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Department of Psychology, College of Medical and Health Sciences, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
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12
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Chen G, Jin Z, Li S, Jin X, Tong S, Liu S, Yang Y, Huang H, Guo Y. Early life exposure to particulate matter air pollution (PM 1, PM 2.5 and PM 10) and autism in Shanghai, China: A case-control study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2018; 121:1121-1127. [PMID: 30409451 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Revised: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/14/2018] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The evidence for adverse effects of ambient particulate matter (PM) pollution on mental health is limited. Studies in Western countries suggested higher risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) associated with PM air pollution, but no such study has been done in developing countries. METHODS A case-control study was performed in Shanghai with a multi-stage random sampling design. Children's exposures to PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter < 1 μm, < 2.5 μm and < 10 μm, respectively) during the first three years after birth were estimated with satellite remote sensing data. Conditional logistic regression was used to examine the PM-ASD association. RESULTS In total, 124 ASD cases and 1240 healthy controls were included in this study. The median levels of PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 exposures during the first three years of life were 48.8 μg/m3, 66.2 μg/m3 and 95.4 μg/m3, respectively, and the interquartile range (IQR) for these three pollutants were 4.8 μg/m3, 3.4 μg/m3 and 4.9 μg/m3, respectively. The adjusted odds ratios (and 95% confidence intervals) of ASD associated with an IQR increase for PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 were 1.86 (1.09, 3.17), 1.78 (1.14, 2.76) and 1.68 (1.09, 2.59), respectively. Higher ORs of ASD associated with PM pollution were observed in the second and the third year after birth. CONCLUSIONS Exposures to PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 during the first three years of life were associated with the increased risk of ASD and there appeared to be stronger effects of ambient PM pollution on ASD in the second and the third years after birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gongbo Chen
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Zhijuan Jin
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shanshan Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Xingming Jin
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shilu Tong
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Pediatric Translational Medicine Institute, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; School of Public Health and Institute of Environment and Human Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Shijian Liu
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Pediatric Translational Medicine Institute, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - You Yang
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong Huang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yuming Guo
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
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13
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Hughes HK, Mills Ko E, Rose D, Ashwood P. Immune Dysfunction and Autoimmunity as Pathological Mechanisms in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:405. [PMID: 30483058 PMCID: PMC6242891 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of heterogeneous neurological disorders that are highly variable and are clinically characterized by deficits in social interactions, communication, and stereotypical behaviors. Prevalence has risen from 1 in 10,000 in 1972 to 1 in 59 children in the United States in 2014. This rise in prevalence could be due in part to better diagnoses and awareness, however, these together cannot solely account for such a significant rise. While causative connections have not been proven in the majority of cases, many current studies focus on the combined effects of genetics and environment. Strikingly, a distinct picture of immune dysfunction has emerged and been supported by many independent studies over the past decade. Many players in the immune-ASD puzzle may be mechanistically contributing to pathogenesis of these disorders, including skewed cytokine responses, differences in total numbers and frequencies of immune cells and their subsets, neuroinflammation, and adaptive and innate immune dysfunction, as well as altered levels of immunoglobulin and the presence of autoantibodies which have been found in a substantial number of individuals with ASD. This review summarizes the latest research linking ASD, autoimmunity and immune dysfunction, and discusses evidence of a potential autoimmune component of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather K. Hughes
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- MIND Institute, UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Emily Mills Ko
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- MIND Institute, UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Destanie Rose
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- MIND Institute, UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Paul Ashwood
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- MIND Institute, UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, United States
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Intravenous immunoglobulin for the treatment of autoimmune encephalopathy in children with autism. Transl Psychiatry 2018; 8:148. [PMID: 30097568 PMCID: PMC6086890 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-018-0214-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Revised: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The identification of brain-targeted autoantibodies in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) raises the possibility of autoimmune encephalopathy (AIE). Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is effective for AIE and for some children with ASD. Here, we present the largest case series of children with ASD treated with IVIG. Through an ASD clinic, we screened 82 children for AIE, 80 of them with ASD. IVIG was recommended for 49 (60%) with 31 (38%) receiving the treatment under our care team. The majority of parents (90%) reported some improvement with 71% reporting improvements in two or more symptoms. In a subset of patients, Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) and/or Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) were completed before and during IVIG treatment. Statistically significant improvement occurred in the SRS and ABC. The antidopamine D2L receptor antibody, the anti-tubulin antibody and the ratio of the antidopamine D2L to D1 receptor antibodies were related to changes in the ABC. The Cunningham Panel predicted SRS, ABC, parent-based treatment responses with good accuracy. Adverse effects were common (62%) but mostly limited to the infusion period. Only two (6%) patients discontinued IVIG because of adverse effects. Overall, our open-label case series provides support for the possibility that some children with ASD may benefit from IVIG. Given that adverse effects are not uncommon, IVIG treatment needs to be considered cautiously. We identified immune biomarkers in select IVIG responders but larger cohorts are needed to study immune biomarkers in more detail. Our small open-label exploratory trial provides evidence supporting a neuroimmune subgroup in patients with ASD.
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Bi XA, Zhao J, Xu Q, Sun Q, Wang Z. Abnormal Functional Connectivity of Resting State Network Detection Based on Linear ICA Analysis in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Physiol 2018; 9:475. [PMID: 29867534 PMCID: PMC5952255 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Some functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) researches in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) patients have shown that ASD patients have significant impairment in brain response. However, few researchers have studied the functional structure changes of the eight resting state networks (RSNs) in ASD patients. Therefore, research on statistical differences of RSNs between 42 healthy controls (HC) and 50 ASD patients has been studied using linear independent component analysis (ICA) in this paper. Our researches showed that there was abnormal functional connectivity (FC) of RSNs in ASD patients. The RSNs with the decreased FC and increased FC in ASD patients included default mode network (DMN), central executive network (CEN), core network (CN), visual network (VN), self-referential network (SRN) compared to HC. The RSNs with the increased FC in ASD patients included auditory network (AN), somato-motor network (SMN). The dorsal attention network (DAN) in ASD patients showed the decreased FC. Our findings indicate that the abnormal FC in RSNs extensively exists in ASD patients. Our results have important contribution for the study of neuro-pathophysiological mechanisms in ASD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia-An Bi
- College of Mathematics and Computer Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Junxia Zhao
- College of Mathematics and Computer Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Qian Xu
- College of Mathematics and Computer Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Qi Sun
- College of Mathematics and Computer Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhigang Wang
- College of Mathematics and Computer Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
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16
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Bridging Autism Spectrum Disorders and Schizophrenia through inflammation and biomarkers - pre-clinical and clinical investigations. J Neuroinflammation 2017; 14:179. [PMID: 28870209 PMCID: PMC5584030 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-017-0938-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, evidence supporting a link between inflammation and neuropsychiatric disorders has been mounting. Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and schizophrenia share some clinical similarities which we hypothesize might reflect the same biological basis, namely, in terms of inflammation. However, the diagnosis of ASD and schizophrenia relies solely on clinical symptoms, and to date, there is no clinically useful biomarker to diagnose or monitor the course of such illnesses. The focus of this review is the central role that inflammation plays in ASD and schizophrenia. It spans from pre-clinical animal models to clinical research and excludes in vitro studies. Four major areas are covered: (1) microglia, the inflammatory brain resident myeloid cells, (2) biomarkers, including circulating cytokines, oxidative stress markers, and microRNA players, known to influence cellular processes at brain and immune levels, (3) effect of anti-psychotics on biomarkers and other predictors of response, and (4) impact of gender on response to immune activation, biomarkers, and response to anti-psychotic treatments.
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17
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Serologic Markers of Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Mol Neurosci 2017; 62:420-429. [PMID: 28730336 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-017-0950-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
According to WHO data, about 67 million people worldwide are affected by autism, and this number grows by 14% annually. Among the possible causes of autism are genetic modifications, organic lesions of the central nervous system, metabolic disorders, influence of viral and bacterial infections, chemical influence to the mother's body during pregnancy, etc. The conducted research shows that research papers published until today do not name any potential protein markers that meet the requirements of the basic parameters for evaluating the efficiency of disease diagnostics, in particular high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. Conducting proteomic research on a big scale in order to detect serologic markers of protein nature associated with development of autism spectrum disorders seems to be highly relevant.
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Bilbo SD, Block CL, Bolton JL, Hanamsagar R, Tran PK. Beyond infection - Maternal immune activation by environmental factors, microglial development, and relevance for autism spectrum disorders. Exp Neurol 2017; 299:241-251. [PMID: 28698032 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2017.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 196] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2017] [Revised: 06/26/2017] [Accepted: 07/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Immune molecules such as cytokines and chemokines and the cells that produce them within the brain, notably microglia, are critical for normal brain development. This recognition has in recent years led to the working hypothesis that inflammatory events during pregnancy, e.g. in response to infection, may disrupt the normal expression of immune molecules during critical stages of neural development and thereby contribute to the risk for neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This hypothesis has in large part been shepherded by the work of Dr. Paul Patterson and colleagues, which has elegantly demonstrated that a single viral infection or injection of a viral mimetic to pregnant mice significantly and persistently impacts offspring immune and nervous system function, changes that underlie ASD-like behavioral dysfunction including social and communication deficits. Subsequent studies by many labs - in humans and in non-human animal models - have supported the hypothesis that ongoing disrupted immune molecule expression and/or neuroinflammation contributes to at least a significant subset of ASD. The heterogeneous clinical and biological phenotypes observed in ASD strongly suggest that in genetically susceptible individuals, environmental risk factors combine or synergize to create a tipping or threshold point for dysfunction. Importantly, animal studies showing a link between maternal immune activation (MIA) and ASD-like outcomes in offspring involve different species and diverse environmental factors associated with ASD in humans, beyond infection, including toxin exposures, maternal stress, and maternal obesity, all of which impact inflammatory or immune pathways. The goal of this review is to highlight the broader implications of Dr. Patterson's work for the field of autism, with a focus on the impact that MIA by diverse environmental factors has on fetal brain development, immune system development, and the pathophysiology of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Staci D Bilbo
- Pediatrics and Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, MA 02126, United States.
| | - Carina L Block
- Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, United States
| | - Jessica L Bolton
- Pediatrics and Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, United States
| | - Richa Hanamsagar
- Pediatrics and Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, MA 02126, United States
| | - Phuong K Tran
- Pediatrics and Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, MA 02126, United States
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Qasem H, Al-Ayadhi L, Al Dera H, El-Ansary A. Increase of cytosolic phospholipase A2 as hydrolytic enzyme of phospholipids and autism cognitive, social and sensory dysfunction severity. Lipids Health Dis 2017; 16:117. [PMID: 28724385 PMCID: PMC5516334 DOI: 10.1186/s12944-016-0391-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2016] [Accepted: 12/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism is neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by developmental, behavioral, social and sensory abnormalities. Researchers have focused in last years in immunological alteration and inflammation as a hot subject in autism field. This work aims to study the alteration in phospholipids (PE, PS, and PC) together with the change in cPLA2 concentration as the main phospholipid hydrolytic enzyme in autistic patients compared to control. It was also extended to find a correlation between these biomarkers and severity of autism measured as childhood autism rating scale (CARS), Social responsiveness scale (SRS), and Short sensory profile (SSP). METHODS Phospholipids (PE, PS, PC) and cPLA2 as biochemical parameters were determined in the plasma of 48 Saudi autistic male patients, categorized as mild-moderate and severe as indicated by their Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), social responsiveness scale (SRS) and short sensory profile (SSP) and compared to 40 age- and gender-matched control samples. RESULTS The reported data demonstrate significantly lower levels of PE, PS, and PC together with a significant increase in cPLA2. While association between severity of autism and impaired phospholipid concentration was completely lacked, an association between cPLA2 and impaired sensory processing was observed. CONCLUSIONS The impaired phospholipid level and remarkable increased in cPLA2 concentration asserted their roles in the etiology of autism. Receiver operating characteristic analysis together with predictiveness diagrams proved that the measured parameters could be used as predictive biomarkers of clinical symptoms and provide significant guidance for future therapeutic strategy to re-establish physiological homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanan Qasem
- Biochemistry Department, Science College, King Saud University, P.O. Box 22452, 11495 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Laila Al-Ayadhi
- Autism Research and Treatment Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Shaik AL-Amodi Autism Research Chair, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hussain Al Dera
- Basic medical science dept. College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdul Aziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (Kaimrc), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Afaf El-Ansary
- Biochemistry Department, Science College, King Saud University, P.O. Box 22452, 11495 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Autism Research and Treatment Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Shaik AL-Amodi Autism Research Chair, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Central Laboratory, Center for Female Scientific and Medical Colleges at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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20
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Wong-Baeza C, Reséndiz-Mora A, Donis-Maturano L, Wong-Baeza I, Zárate-Neira L, Yam-Puc JC, Calderón-Amador J, Medina Y, Wong C, Baeza I, Flores-Romo L. Anti-Lipid IgG Antibodies Are Produced via Germinal Centers in a Murine Model Resembling Human Lupus. Front Immunol 2016; 7:396. [PMID: 27746783 PMCID: PMC5040728 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2016.00396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2016] [Accepted: 09/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Anti-lipid IgG antibodies are produced in some mycobacterial infections and in certain autoimmune diseases [such as anti-phospholipid syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)]. However, few studies have addressed the B cell responses underlying the production of these immunoglobulins. Anti-lipid IgG antibodies are consistently found in a murine model resembling human lupus induced by chlorpromazine-stabilized non-bilayer phospholipid arrangements (NPA). NPA are transitory lipid associations found in the membranes of most cells; when NPA are stabilized they can become immunogenic and induce specific IgG antibodies, which appear to be involved in the development of the mouse model of lupus. Of note, anti-NPA antibodies are also detected in patients with SLE and leprosy. We used this model of lupus to investigate in vivo the cellular mechanisms that lead to the production of anti-lipid, class-switched IgG antibodies. In this murine lupus model, we found plasma cells (Gr1−, CD19−, CD138+) producing NPA-specific IgGs in the draining lymph nodes, the spleen, and the bone marrow. We also found a significant number of germinal center B cells (IgD−, CD19+, PNA+) specific for NPA in the draining lymph nodes and the spleen, and we identified in situ the presence of NPA in these germinal centers. By contrast, very few NPA-specific, extrafollicular reaction B cells (B220+, Blimp1+) were found. Moreover, when assessing the anti-NPA IgG antibodies produced during the experimental protocol, we found that the affinity of these antibodies progressively increased over time. Altogether, our data indicate that, in this murine model resembling human lupus, B cells produce anti-NPA IgG antibodies mainly via germinal centers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Wong-Baeza
- Department of Cell Biology, Center for Research and Advanced Studies, CINVESTAV-IPN, National Polytechnic Institute, Mexico City, Mexico; Laboratorio de Biomembranas, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas (ENCB), IPN, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Albany Reséndiz-Mora
- Laboratorio de Biomembranas, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas (ENCB), IPN , Ciudad de México , México
| | - Luis Donis-Maturano
- Department of Cell Biology, Center for Research and Advanced Studies, CINVESTAV-IPN, National Polytechnic Institute , Mexico City , Mexico
| | - Isabel Wong-Baeza
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular II, Departamento de Inmunología, ENCB, IPN , Ciudad de México , México
| | - Luz Zárate-Neira
- Laboratorio de Biomembranas, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas (ENCB), IPN , Ciudad de México , México
| | - Juan Carlos Yam-Puc
- Department of Cell Biology, Center for Research and Advanced Studies, CINVESTAV-IPN, National Polytechnic Institute , Mexico City , Mexico
| | - Juana Calderón-Amador
- Department of Cell Biology, Center for Research and Advanced Studies, CINVESTAV-IPN, National Polytechnic Institute , Mexico City , Mexico
| | - Yolanda Medina
- Laboratory of monoclonal antibodies, Institute of Epidemiological Diagnosis and Reference , Mexico City , Mexico
| | - Carlos Wong
- Laboratorio de Biomembranas, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas (ENCB), IPN , Ciudad de México , México
| | - Isabel Baeza
- Laboratorio de Biomembranas, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas (ENCB), IPN , Ciudad de México , México
| | - Leopoldo Flores-Romo
- Department of Cell Biology, Center for Research and Advanced Studies, CINVESTAV-IPN, National Polytechnic Institute , Mexico City , Mexico
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21
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Frye RE, Rossignol DA. Identification and Treatment of Pathophysiological Comorbidities of Autism Spectrum Disorder to Achieve Optimal Outcomes. CLINICAL MEDICINE INSIGHTS-PEDIATRICS 2016; 10:43-56. [PMID: 27330338 PMCID: PMC4910649 DOI: 10.4137/cmped.s38337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2016] [Revised: 05/15/2016] [Accepted: 05/18/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Despite the fact that the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) continues to rise, no effective medical treatments have become standard of care. In this paper we review some of the pathophysiological abnormalities associated with ASD and their potential associated treatments. Overall, there is evidence for some children with ASD being affected by seizure and epilepsy, neurotransmitter dysfunction, sleep disorders, metabolic abnormalities, including abnormalities in folate, cobalamin, tetrahydrobiopterin, carnitine, redox and mitochondrial metabolism, and immune and gastrointestinal disorders. Although evidence for an association between these pathophysiological abnormalities and ASD exists, the exact relationship to the etiology of ASD and its associated symptoms remains to be further defined in many cases. Despite these limitations, treatments targeting some of these pathophysiological abnormalities have been studied in some cases with high-quality studies, whereas treatments for other pathophysiological abnormalities have not been well studied in many cases. There are some areas of more promising treatments specific for ASD including neurotransmitter abnormalities, particularly imbalances in glutamate and acetylcholine, sleep onset disorder (with behavioral therapy and melatonin), and metabolic abnormalities in folate, cobalamin, tetrahydrobiopterin, carnitine, and redox pathways. There is some evidence for treatments of epilepsy and seizures, mitochondrial and immune disorders, and gastrointestinal abnormalities, particularly imbalances in the enteric microbiome, but further clinical studies are needed in these areas to better define treatments specific to children with ASD. Clearly, there are some promising areas of ASD research that could lead to novel treatments that could become standard of care in the future, but more research is needed to better define subgroups of children with ASD who are affected by specific pathophysiological abnormalities and the optimal treatments for these abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard E Frye
- Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, AR, USA.; Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
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22
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Müller-Calleja N, Rossmann H, Müller C, Wild P, Blankenberg S, Pfeiffer N, Binder H, Beutel ME, Manukyan D, Zeller T, Lackner KJ. Antiphospholipid antibodies in a large population-based cohort: genome-wide associations and effects on monocyte gene expression. Thromb Haemost 2016; 116:115-23. [PMID: 27098658 DOI: 10.1160/th15-12-0947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2015] [Accepted: 03/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is characterised by venous and/or arterial thrombosis and pregnancy morbidity in women combined with the persistent presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). We aimed to identify genetic factors associated with the presence of aPL in a population based cohort. Furthermore, we wanted to clarify if the presence of aPL affects gene expression in circulating monocytes. Titres of IgG and IgM against cardiolipin, β2glycoprotein 1 (anti-β2GPI), and IgG against domain 1 of β2GPI (anti-domain 1) were determined in approx. 5,000 individuals from the Gutenberg Health Study (GHS) a population based cohort of German descent. Genotyping was conducted on Affymetrix Genome-Wide Human SNP 6.0 arrays. Monocyte gene expression was determined in a subgroup of 1,279 individuals by using the Illumina HT-12 v3 BeadChip. Gene expression data were confirmed in vitro and ex vivo by qRT-PCR. Genome wide analysis revealed significant associations of anti-β2GPI IgG and APOH on chromosome 17, which had been previously identified by candidate gene approaches, and of anti-domain1 and MACROD2 on chromosome 20 which has been listed in a previous GWAS as a suggestive locus associated with the occurrence of anti-β2GPI antibodies. Expression analysis confirmed increased expression of TNFα in monocytes and identified and confirmed neuron navigator 3 (NAV3) as a novel gene induced by aPL. In conclusion, MACROD2 represents a novel genetic locus associated with aPL. Furthermore, we show that aPL induce the expression of NAV3 in monocytes and endothelial cells. This will stimulate further research into the role of these genes in the APS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Karl J Lackner
- Dr. Karl J. Lackner, Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, D-55131 Mainz, Germany, Tel.: +49 6131 177190, E-mail:
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Abstract
Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a multisystem autoimmune condition characterized by vascular thromboses associated with persistently positive antiphospholipid antibodies. There is currently a paucity of data (incidence, prevalence, thrombosis risk, and effective treatment) in pediatric APS. The purpose of this report is to review the current literature on APS in children and neonates, identify the gaps in current knowledge, and suggest avenues for studies to fill those gaps.
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Lageix F, Nicaise-Roland P, Houlier M, Zylberberg P, Dubrel M, Heulin M, Fain O, Lachassinne E, Héron B, Chollet-Martin S, Mekinian A, de Pontual L. Lien entre trouble du spectre autistique de l’enfant et anticorps antiphospholipides : une étude cas–témoin. Arch Pediatr 2015; 22:1140-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.arcped.2015.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2015] [Revised: 04/24/2015] [Accepted: 08/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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25
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Walker CK, Ashwood P, Hertz-Picciotto I. Preeclampsia, placental insufficiency, autism, and antiphospholipid antibodies-reply. JAMA Pediatr 2015; 169:606-7. [PMID: 26030513 PMCID: PMC5156670 DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2015.0345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl K. Walker
- Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of
Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis,MIND (Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental
Disorders) Institute, University of California, Davis
| | - Paul Ashwood
- MIND (Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental
Disorders) Institute, University of California, Davis,Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology,
University of California, Davis
| | - Irva Hertz-Picciotto
- MIND (Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental
Disorders) Institute, University of California, Davis,Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine,
University of California, Davis
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26
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Raz R, Roberts AL, Lyall K, Hart JE, Just AC, Laden F, Weisskopf MG. Autism spectrum disorder and particulate matter air pollution before, during, and after pregnancy: a nested case-control analysis within the Nurses' Health Study II Cohort. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2015; 123:264-70. [PMID: 25522338 PMCID: PMC4348742 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1408133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 211] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2014] [Accepted: 12/10/2014] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder with increasing prevalence worldwide, yet has unclear etiology. OBJECTIVE We explored the association between maternal exposure to particulate matter (PM) air pollution and odds of ASD in her child. METHODS We conducted a nested case-control study of participants in the Nurses' Health Study II (NHS II), a prospective cohort of 116,430 U.S. female nurses recruited in 1989, followed by biennial mailed questionnaires. Subjects were NHS II participants' children born 1990-2002 with ASD (n = 245), and children without ASD (n = 1,522) randomly selected using frequency matching for birth years. Diagnosis of ASD was based on maternal report, which was validated against the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised in a subset. Monthly averages of PM with diameters ≤ 2.5 μm (PM2.5) and 2.5-10 μm (PM10-2.5) were predicted from a spatiotemporal model for the continental United States and linked to residential addresses. RESULTS PM2.5 exposure during pregnancy was associated with increased odds of ASD, with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) for ASD per interquartile range (IQR) higher PM2.5 (4.42 μg/m3) of 1.57 (95% CI: 1.22, 2.03) among women with the same address before and after pregnancy (160 cases, 986 controls). Associations with PM2.5 exposure 9 months before or after the pregnancy were weaker in independent models and null when all three time periods were included, whereas the association with the 9 months of pregnancy remained (OR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.08, 2.47). The association between ASD and PM2.5 was stronger for exposure during the third trimester (OR = 1.42 per IQR increase in PM2.5; 95% CI: 1.09, 1.86) than during the first two trimesters (ORs = 1.06 and 1.00) when mutually adjusted. There was little association between PM10-2.5 and ASD. CONCLUSIONS Higher maternal exposure to PM2.5 during pregnancy, particularly the third trimester, was associated with greater odds of a child having ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raanan Raz
- Department of Environmental Health, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Naviaux JC, Wang L, Li K, Bright AT, Alaynick WA, Williams KR, Powell SB, Naviaux RK. Antipurinergic therapy corrects the autism-like features in the Fragile X (Fmr1 knockout) mouse model. Mol Autism 2015; 6:1. [PMID: 25705365 PMCID: PMC4334917 DOI: 10.1186/2040-2392-6-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2014] [Accepted: 12/16/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background This study was designed to test a new approach to drug treatment of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in the Fragile X (Fmr1) knockout mouse model. Methods We used behavioral analysis, mass spectrometry, metabolomics, electron microscopy, and western analysis to test the hypothesis that the disturbances in social behavior, novelty preference, metabolism, and synapse structure are treatable with antipurinergic therapy (APT). Results Weekly treatment with the purinergic antagonist suramin (20 mg/kg intraperitoneally), started at 9 weeks of age, restored normal social behavior, and improved metabolism, and brain synaptosomal structure. Abnormalities in synaptosomal glutamate, endocannabinoid, purinergic, and IP3 receptor expression, complement C1q, TDP43, and amyloid β precursor protein (APP) were corrected. Comprehensive metabolomic analysis identified 20 biochemical pathways associated with symptom improvements. Seventeen pathways were shared with human ASD, and 11 were shared with the maternal immune activation (MIA) model of ASD. These metabolic pathways were previously identified as functionally related mediators of the evolutionarily conserved cell danger response (CDR). Conclusions The data show that antipurinergic therapy improves the multisystem, ASD-like features of both the environmental MIA, and the genetic Fragile X models. These abnormalities appeared to be traceable to mitochondria and regulated by purinergic signaling. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/2040-2392-6-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane C Naviaux
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, 214 Dickinson St., Bldg CTF, Rm C102, San Diego, CA 92103-8467 USA
| | - Lin Wang
- The Mitochondrial and Metabolic Disease Center, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, 214 Dickinson St., Bldg CTF, Rm C102, San Diego, CA 92103-8467 USA ; Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, 214 Dickinson St., Bldg CTF, Rm C102, San Diego, CA 92103-8467 USA
| | - Kefeng Li
- The Mitochondrial and Metabolic Disease Center, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, 214 Dickinson St., Bldg CTF, Rm C102, San Diego, CA 92103-8467 USA ; Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, 214 Dickinson St., Bldg CTF, Rm C102, San Diego, CA 92103-8467 USA
| | - A Taylor Bright
- The Mitochondrial and Metabolic Disease Center, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, 214 Dickinson St., Bldg CTF, Rm C102, San Diego, CA 92103-8467 USA ; Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, 214 Dickinson St., Bldg CTF, Rm C102, San Diego, CA 92103-8467 USA
| | - William A Alaynick
- The Mitochondrial and Metabolic Disease Center, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, 214 Dickinson St., Bldg CTF, Rm C102, San Diego, CA 92103-8467 USA ; Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, 214 Dickinson St., Bldg CTF, Rm C102, San Diego, CA 92103-8467 USA
| | - Kenneth R Williams
- The Mitochondrial and Metabolic Disease Center, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, 214 Dickinson St., Bldg CTF, Rm C102, San Diego, CA 92103-8467 USA ; Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, 214 Dickinson St., Bldg CTF, Rm C102, San Diego, CA 92103-8467 USA ; General Atomics, Inc, San Diego, CA USA
| | - Susan B Powell
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, 214 Dickinson St., Bldg CTF, Rm C102, San Diego, CA 92103-8467 USA ; Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Robert K Naviaux
- The Mitochondrial and Metabolic Disease Center, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, 214 Dickinson St., Bldg CTF, Rm C102, San Diego, CA 92103-8467 USA ; Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, 214 Dickinson St., Bldg CTF, Rm C102, San Diego, CA 92103-8467 USA ; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, 214 Dickinson St., Bldg CTF, Rm C102, San Diego, CA 92103-8467 USA ; Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, 214 Dickinson St., Bldg CTF, Rm C102, San Diego, CA 92103-8467 USA ; Veterans Affairs Center for Excellence in Stress and Mental Health (CESAMH), La Jolla, CA USA
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Theoharides TC, Athanassiou M, Panagiotidou S, Doyle R. Dysregulated brain immunity and neurotrophin signaling in Rett syndrome and autism spectrum disorders. J Neuroimmunol 2014; 279:33-8. [PMID: 25669997 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2014.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2014] [Revised: 11/18/2014] [Accepted: 12/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Rett syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder, which occurs in about 1:15,000 females and presents with neurologic and communication defects. It is transmitted as an X-linked dominant linked to mutations of the methyl-CpG-binding protein (MeCP2), a gene transcription suppressor, but its definitive pathogenesis is unknown thus hindering development of effective treatments. Almost half of children with Rett syndrome also have behavioral symptoms consistent with those of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). PubMed was searched (2005-2014) using the terms: allergy, atopy, brain, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), cytokines, gene mutations, inflammation, mast cells (MCs), microglia, mitochondria, neurotensin (NT), neurotrophins, seizures, stress, and treatment. There are a number of intriguing differences and similarities between Rett syndrome and ASDs. Rett syndrome occurs in females, while ASDs more often in males, and the former has neurologic disabilities unlike ASDs. There is evidence of dysregulated immune system early in life in both conditions. Lack of microglial phagocytosis and decreased levels of BDNF appear to distinguish Rett syndrome from ASDs, in which there is instead microglia activation and/or proliferation and possibly defective BDNF signaling. Moreover, brain mast cell (MC) activation and focal inflammation may be more prominent in ASDs than Rett syndrome. The flavonoid luteolin blocks microglia and MC activation, provides BDNF-like activity, reverses Rett phenotype in mouse models, and has a significant benefit in children with ASDs. Appropriate formulations of luteolin or other natural molecules may be useful in the treatment of Rett syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theoharis C Theoharides
- Molecular Immunopharmacology and Drug Discovery Laboratory, Department of Integrative Physiology and Pathobiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA, USA; Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Marianna Athanassiou
- Molecular Immunopharmacology and Drug Discovery Laboratory, Department of Integrative Physiology and Pathobiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Smaro Panagiotidou
- Molecular Immunopharmacology and Drug Discovery Laboratory, Department of Integrative Physiology and Pathobiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert Doyle
- Pediatric Psychopharmacology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston MA, USA
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Samsam M, Ahangari R, Naser SA. Pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorders: Revisiting gastrointestinal involvement and immune imbalance. World J Gastroenterol 2014; 20:9942-9951. [PMID: 25110424 PMCID: PMC4123375 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i29.9942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2014] [Revised: 05/22/2014] [Accepted: 06/13/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) comprise a group of neurodevelopmental abnormalities that begin in early childhood and are characterized by impairment of social communication and behavioral problems including restricted interests and repetitive behaviors. Several genes have been implicated in the pathogenesis of ASD, most of them are involved in neuronal synaptogenesis. A number of environmental factors and associated conditions such as gastrointestinal (GI) abnormalities and immune imbalance have been linked to the pathophysiology of ASD. According to the March 2012 report released by United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of ASD has sharply increased during the recent years and one out of 88 children suffers now from ASD symptoms. Although there is a strong genetic base for the disease, several associated factors could have a direct link to the pathogenesis of ASD or act as modifiers of the genes thus aggravating the initial problem. Many children suffering from ASD have GI problems such as abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, gastroesophageal reflux, and intestinal infections. A number of studies focusing on the intestinal mucosa, its permeability, abnormal gut development, leaky gut, and other GI problem raised many questions but studies were somehow inconclusive and an expert panel of American Academy of Pediatrics has strongly recommended further investigation in these areas. GI tract has a direct connection with the immune system and an imbalanced immune response is usually seen in ASD children. Maternal infection or autoimmune diseases have been suspected. Activation of the immune system during early development may have deleterious effect on various organs including the nervous system. In this review we revisited briefly the GI and immune system abnormalities and neuropeptide imbalance and their role in the pathophysiology of ASD and discussed some future research directions.
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Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in reciprocal social interactions as well as restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior. The etiology of ASD is not well understood, although many factors have been associated with its pathogenesis, such genetic, neurological, environmental and immunological factors. Several studies have reported the production of numerous autoantibodies that react with specific brain proteins and brain tissues in autistic children and alter the function of the attacked brains tissue. In addition, the potential role of maternal autoantibodies to the fatal brain in the etiology of some cases of autism has also been reported. Identification and understanding of the role of brain autoantibodies as biological biomarkers may allow earlier detection of ASD, lead to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of ASD and have important therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadra E Elamin
- Autism Research & Treatment Center, Shaik AL-Amodi Autism Research Chair, Faculty of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Laila Y Al-Ayadhi
- Autism Research & Treatment Center, Shaik AL-Amodi Autism Research Chair, Faculty of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, King Saud University, PO Box 2925, Riyadh 11461, Saudi Arabia
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