The DOI matches its Crossref record; 60 of the 62 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Molecular analysis of nicotinic receptor expression in autism
Open accessAbstract
Autism is a developmental disorder of unknown aetiopathology and lacking any specific pharmacological therapeutic intervention. Neurotransmitters such as serotonin, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and acetylcholine have been implicated. Abnormalities in nicotinic acetylcholine receptors have been identified including cortical loss of binding to the alpha4/beta2 subtype and increase in cerebellar alpha7 binding. Receptor expression (mRNA) has not so far been systematically examined. This study aims to further explore the role of nicotinic receptors in autism by analysing nicotinic receptor subunit mRNA in conjunction with protein levels and receptor binding in different brain areas. Quantitative RT-PCR for alpha4, alpha7 and beta2 subunit mRNA expression levels; alpha3, alpha4, alpha7 and beta2 subunit protein expression immunochemistry and specific radioligand receptor binding were performed in adult autism and control brain samples from cerebral cortex and cerebellum. Alpha4 and beta2 protein expression and receptor binding density as well as alpha4 mRNA levels were lower in parietal cortex in autism, while alpha7 did not change for any of these parameters. In cerebellum, alpha4 mRNA expression was increased, whereas subunit protein and receptor levels were decreased. Alpha7 receptor binding in cerebellum was increased alongside non-significant elevations in mRNA and protein expression levels. No significant changes were found for beta2 in cerebellum. The data obtained, using complementary measures of receptor expression, indicate that reduced gene expression of the alpha4beta2 nicotinic receptor in the cerebral cortex is a major feature of the neurochemical pathology of autism, whilst post-transcriptional abnormalities of both this and the alpha7 subtype are apparent in the cerebellum. The findings point to dendritic and/or synaptic nicotinic receptor abnormalities that may relate to disruptions in cerebral circuitry development.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“A follow up study [173] found increased α4 mRNA expression in cerebellum but subunit protein levels and binding decreased.”
From Consensus Paper: Pathological Role of the Cerebellum in Autism (2012) · cites this paper as [173]
Citations
Cites
PROTEIN MEASUREMENT WITH THE FOLIN PHENOL REAGENT
Lowry, O. H., Rosebrough, N., Farr, A. L., & Randall, R. (1951) · Journal of Biological Chemistry · doi:10.1016/s0021-9258(19)52451-6 · Cited by 316,394
Unusual brain growth patterns in early life in patients with autistic disorder: An MRI study
Courchesne, E., Karns, C. M., Davis, H. R., Ziccardi, R., Carper, R. A., Tigue, Z. D., Chisum, H. J., Moses, P., Pierce, K., Lord, C., et al. (2001) · Neurology · doi:10.1212/wnl.57.2.245 · Cited by 1,487
A clinicopathological study of autism
Bailey, A. (1998) · Brain · doi:10.1093/brain/121.5.889 · Cited by 1,083
Nicotine enhancement of fast excitatory synaptic transmission in CNS by presynaptic receptors
McGehee, D. S., Heath, M. J. S., Gelber, S., Devay, P., & Role, L. W. (1995) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.7569895 · Cited by 1,070
A Twin Study of Autism in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden
Steffenburg, S., Gillberg, C., Hellgren, L., Andersson, L., Gillberg, I. C., Jakobsson, G., & Bohman, M. (1989) · Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry · doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.1989.tb00254.x · Cited by 780
First genetic evidence of GABAA receptor dysfunction in epilepsy: a mutation in the γ2-subunit gene
Baulac, S., Huberfeld, G., Gourfinkel‐An, I., Mitropoulou, G., Beranger, A., Prud’homme, J.-F., Baulac, M., Brice, A., Bruzzone, R., & Leguern, É. (2001) · Nature Genetics · doi:10.1038/ng0501-46 · Cited by 765
(1986) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/ajp.143.7.862 · Cited by 590
Postmortem brain abnormalities of the glutamate neurotransmitter system in autism
Purcell, A. E., Jeon, O. H., Zimmerman, A. W., Blue, M. E., & Pevsner, J. (2001) · Neurology · doi:10.1212/wnl.57.9.1618 · Cited by 518
Serotonin and brain development: role in human developmental diseases
Whitaker-Azmitia, P. M. (2001) · Brain Research Bulletin · doi:10.1016/s0361-9230(01)00615-3 · Cited by 506
Fatemi, S. H., Halt, A. R., Stary, J. M., Kanodia, R., Schulz, S. C., & Realmuto, G. R. (2002) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/s0006-3223(02)01430-0 · Cited by 500
Flagged first, then by citations
2 of the 62 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- Buitelaar, 2000, Autism: current theories regarding its pathogenesis and implications for rational pharmacotherapy, Paediatr. Drugs, 2, 67, 10.2165/00128072-200002010-00006 · DOI
- McQueen, 2002, Secretin for the treatment of autism, Ann. Pharmacother., 36, 305, 10.1345/aph.19113 · DOI · Paper page
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 101–141 of 141
Xu, Y., Zhang, B., Su, W.-H., Wu, M.-C., Bing, Y.-H., Cui, S.-B., Chu, C., Li, Y.-Z., & Qiu, D. (2018) · European Journal of Pharmacology · doi:10.1016/j.ejphar.2018.11.022 · Cited by 6
Neural basis of attention orienting abnormalities in children with autism
Stroganova, T. A., Orekhova, E. V., & Galuta, I. A. (2015) · Experimental Psychology (Russia) · doi:10.17759/exppsy.2015080302 · Cited by 7
Modeling Features of Autism in Animals
Patterson, P. H. (2006) · CRC Press eBooks · doi:10.1201/9781420004205-18 · Cited by 6
Targeted therapy with galantamine in a pediatric patient with 15q13.3 deletion syndrome
Casas‐Alba, D., Nolasco, G. A., Díez‐Juan, M., Mezzatesta, M., Balañá, G., & Fons, C. (2021) · American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A · doi:10.1002/ajmg.a.62425 · Cited by 5
Inui, T. (2013) · Japanese Psychological Research · doi:10.1111/jpr.12004 · Cited by 5
Developmental Toxicity Within the Central Cholinergic Nervous System
Jett, D. A., Guignet, M. A., Supasai, S., & Lein, P. J. (2018) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-809405-1.00016-x · Cited by 4
Red dermographism in autism spectrum disorders: A clinical sign of cholinergic dysfunction?
Lemonnier, É., Grandgeorge, M., Jacobzone-Lévêque, C., Bessaguet, C., Peudenier, S., & Misery, L. (2013) · Research in Autism · doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2013.01.005 · Cited by 4
Is Propionic acid a suitable model for autism?
E.Elmalahy, H., Ali, E. H. A., Almaaty, A. A., & Abbas, O. (2021) · Alfarama Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences · doi:10.21608/ajbas.2021.82905.1058 · Cited by 4
Interneuron Pathophysiologies: Paths to Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Eagleson, K. L., Hammock, E. A. D., & Levitt, P. R. (2009) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-1243-5_9 · Cited by 4
Basal forebrain modulation of olfactory coding in vivo
Venegas, J. P., Navarrete, M., Orellana-Garcia, L., Rojas, M., Avello-Duarte, F., & Nunez-Parra, A. (2023) · International journal of psychological research · doi:10.21500/20112084.6486 · Cited by 2
Gut microbiome and metabolic profiles of mouse model for MeCP2 duplication syndrome
Wu, J., Hu, Q., Rao, X., Zhao, H., Tang, H., & Wang, Y. (2023) · Brain Research Bulletin · doi:10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.110862 · Cited by 4
Eğilmez, C. B., Pazarlar, B. A., Erdoğan, M. A., Uyanıkgil, Y., & Erbaş, O. (2024) · International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience · doi:10.1002/jdn.10335 · Cited by 3
Understanding on Neuroimmunology in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Depino, A. M., & Robinson‐Agramonte, M. D. L. Á. (2015) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-16321-5_9 · Cited by 3
Takechi, K. (2019) · YAKUGAKU ZASSHI · doi:10.1248/yakushi.19-00159 · Cited by 2
Prenatal β2-Adrenergic Receptor Signaling and Autism:
Connors, S. L. (2008) · Humana Press eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-60327-489-0_7 · Cited by 2
Cholesterol Use in Autism Treatment
Diaz‐Stransky, A., & Tierney, E. (2013) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-4788-7_147 · Cited by 2
α7 Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-mediated anti-inflammatory actions modulate brain functions
(2016) · Neurotransmitter · doi:10.14800/nt.1303 · Cited by 2
Алымов, А. А., Капица, И. Г., & Воронина, Т. А. (2021) · Neurochemical Journal · doi:10.1134/s1819712421020033 · Cited by 2
Ju, X., Song, W., & Xu, J. (2018) · Advances in Psychological Science · doi:10.3724/sp.j.1042.2018.02141 · Cited by 1
Nicotine Attenuates Molecular Signalings in the BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J Mouse Model of Autism
AlSharari, S. D., Mahmood, H. M., Alasmari, A. F., Aldhalaan, H., Alasmari, F. F., Khan, M. R., Ahmad, S. F., Aljasham, A. T., Damaj, M. I., & Alshammari, M. A. (2025) · Molecular Neurobiology · doi:10.1007/s12035-025-04894-6 · Cited by 1
Neurobehavioral Impacts of the Autism Risk Gene, WAC: Studies Involving C. elegans and Mice
Boonpraman, N., Kim, D.-W., Tislerics, E., Barot, J., Pacheco-Cruz, D., Kuhn, N. C., Vogt, D. L., & Sammi, S. R. (2026) · Molecular Neurobiology · doi:10.1007/s12035-026-05964-z · Cited by 1
Biochemistry of autism: changes in serotonin, reelin and oxytocin
Mukaetova‐Ladinska, E. B., Westwood, J., & Perry, E. K. (2011) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511973918.009 · Cited by 1
Self-citationChromosomal Abnormalities and Putative Susceptibility Genes in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Gilling, M. (2015) · Cited by 1
Possible Impact of Innate Immunity on Autism
Jyonouchi, H. (2009) · CRC Press eBooks · doi:10.1201/9781420068870-c13 · Cited by 1
New insights into candidate genes for autism spectrum disorder in 8p23.1 duplication syndrome
Côrrea, M. M., Corrêa, T., Santos-Rebouças, C. B., et al. (2022) · Brazilian Journal of Case Reports · doi:10.52600/2763-583x.bjcr.2023.3.1.16-23 · Cited by 1
Nicotinic Receptors in Brain Diseases
Stitzel, J. A. (2010) · Advances in neurobiology · doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-7104-3_22 · Cited by 1
Mukaetova‐Ladinska, E. B., & Perry, E. K. (2015) · Contemporary clinical neuroscience · doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-2190-4_15 · Cited by 1
Self-citationInterplay Between Dopamine and Acetylcholine in the Modulation of Attention
Atzori, M., & Paz, R. D. (2007) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-0-387-72256-6_19
Daniello-Weltzen, M. M. (2011) · ScholarWorks - UA (University of Alaska System)
A Novel Mechanism for Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Antagonist-Induced Cancer Cell Cytotoxicity
Clarke, M. R. (2016) · Otago University Research Archive (University of Otago)
Oskvig, D. B. (2010) · DigitalGeorgetown (Georgetown University Library)
Sleep Disturbances in Patients with Asperger Syndrome Related to the Severity of their Symptoms
Paniagua, R. C., Ayala‐Guerrero, F., & Salgado, E. L. M. (2020) · Sleep and Vigilance · doi:10.1007/s41782-020-00104-6
Hosur, V. (2009) · Digital Repository Service (Northeastern University) · doi:10.17760/d20000672
Disease associations—Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease, autism, and cancer
Boyd, R. T. (2023) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-819958-9.00001-3
Chiesa, M. (2018) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/6ef32b4fzb74az4b06zb8edz92268c28d542
Etude de la contribution de l'hormone adipocytaire leptine dans la pathogenèse du syndrome de Rett
Belaïdouni, Y. (2022) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/f69d2875zfa9fz4465z917eza8e7b93935c6
Les troubles du spectre autistique au Liban : une étude épidémiologique et génétique
Gerges, P. (2022) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/f14fade5z5081z4718za5b2zd91f27aa6992
Taheri, A. T., Aschner, M., Rahmati-Dehkordi, F., & Tamtaji, O. (2026) · Molecular Biology Reports · doi:10.1007/s11033-026-12921-5
Rusadze, K. Z., Burjanadze, M. A., Beselia, G. V., Chkhikvishvili, N. C., Chighladze, M. R., Nozadze, B. G., Naneishvili, T. L., & Dashniani, M. G. (2026) · Neuroreport · doi:10.1097/wnr.0000000000002308
Metadata
- Authors
- Martin-Ruiz, C. M., Lee, M., Perry, R. H., Baumann, M., Court, J. A., & Perry, E. K.
- Affiliations
- Newcastle upon Tyne Hospital (GB)
- Harvard University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Martin-Ruiz, C.M.
- ORCID
- Martin-Ruiz, C.M.
- Venue
- Molecular Brain Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2004-04
- Volume
- 123
- Issue
- 1-2
- Pages
- 81-90
- ISSN
- 0169-328X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2146597551
- Cited by
- 141
- References
- 62
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 2.84
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- doi.org
- Locations
- Molecular Brain Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Newcastle University ePrints (Newcastle Univesity)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, alpha4beta2 nicotinic receptor, alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, cerebral cortex, cerebellum, receptor binding density, post-transcriptional regulation
- MeSH terms
- Acetylcholine, Adult, Autistic Disorder, Binding, Competitive, Brain, Brain Chemistry, Cerebellum, Female, Humans, Immunohistochemistry, Male, Synaptic Transmission, Parietal Lobe, Radioligand Assay, Receptors, Nicotinic, RNA, Messenger, Synapses, Down-Regulation, Up-Regulation, Protein Subunits, alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review