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Cai C, Yin Z, Liu A, Wang H, Zeng S, Wang Z, Qiu H, Li S, Zhou J, Wang M. Identifying Rare Genetic Variants of Immune Mediators as Risk Factors for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:1098. [PMID: 35741860 PMCID: PMC9223212 DOI: 10.3390/genes13061098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects more than 1% of children, and there is no viable pharmacotherapeutic agent to treat the core symptoms of ASD. Studies have shown that children with ASD show changes in their levels of immune response molecules. Our previous studies have shown that ASD is more common in children with folate receptor autoantibodies. We also found that children with ASD have abnormal gut immune function, which was characterized by a significant increase in the content of immunoglobulin A and an increase in gut-microbiota-associated epitope diversity. These studies suggest that the immune mechanism plays an important role in the occurrence of ASD. The present study aims to systematically assess gene mutations in immune mediators in patients with ASD. We collected genetic samples from 72 children with ASD (2−12 years old) and 107 healthy controls without ASD (20−78 years old). We used our previously-designed immune gene panel, which can capture cytokine and receptor genes, the coding regions of MHC genes, and genes of innate immunity. Target region sequencing (500×) and bioinformatics analytical methods were used to identify variants in immune response genes associated with patients with ASD. A total of 4 rare variants were found to be associated with ASD, including HLA-B: p.A93G, HLA-DQB1: p.S229N, LILRB2: p.R322H, and LILRB2: c.956-4C>T. These variants were present in 44.44% (32/72) of the ASD patients and were detected in 3.74% (4/107) of the healthy controls. We expect these genetic variants will serve as new targets for the clinical genetic assessment of ASD, and our findings suggest that immune abnormalities in children with ASD may have a genetic basis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunquan Cai
- Tianjin Pediatric Research Institute, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Birth Defects for Prevention and Treatment, Tianjin Children’s Hospital (Children’s Hospital of Tianjin University), No. 238 Longyan Road, Beichen District, Tianjin 300134, China;
| | - Zhaoqing Yin
- Division of Neonatology, The People’s Hospital of Dehong Autonomous Prefecture, Mangshi 678400, China;
| | - Aiping Liu
- The Department of Laboratory, Public Health Service Center of Bao’an District, Bao’an District, Shenzhen 518018, China;
| | - Hui Wang
- Xiamen Branch of Children’s Hospital of Fudan University (Xiamen Children’s Hospital), Xiamen 361006, China;
| | - Shujuan Zeng
- Division of Neonatology, Longgang Central Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518116, China; (S.Z.); (H.Q.)
| | - Zhangxing Wang
- Division of Neonatology, Shenzhen Longhua People’s Hospital, Shenzhen 518109, China;
| | - Huixian Qiu
- Division of Neonatology, Longgang Central Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518116, China; (S.Z.); (H.Q.)
| | - Shijun Li
- Department of Radiology, Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Jiaxiu Zhou
- Division of Psychology, Shenzhen Children’s Hospital, Shenzhen 518038, China
| | - Mingbang Wang
- Microbiome Therapy Center, South China Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518111, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defects, Division of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, China
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Krigsman A, Walker SJ. Gastrointestinal disease in children with autism spectrum disorders: Etiology or consequence? World J Psychiatry 2021; 11:605-618. [PMID: 34631464 PMCID: PMC8474996 DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v11.i9.605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and disorders are common in children with autism spectrum disorder and have been shown to be significantly correlated with the degree of behavioral and cognitive impairment. In this unique population, GI symptoms often arise very early in development, during infancy or toddlerhood, and may be misdiagnosed - or not diagnosed at all – due in part to the challenges associated with recognition of symptoms in a minimally or non-communicative child. Evidence demonstrating that the gut-brain-axis can communicate gut dysbiosis and systemic immune dysregulation in a bidirectional manner raises the question as to whether an untreated gastrointestinal disorder can directly impact neurodevelopment or, conversely, whether having a neurodevelopmental disorder predisposes a child to chronic GI issues. From the data presented in this mini review, we conclude that the preponderance of available evidence would suggest the former scenario is more strongly supported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur Krigsman
- Pediatric Gastroenterology Resources of New York and Texas, Georgetown, TX 78628, United States
| | - Stephen J Walker
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston Salem, NC 27157, United States
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