Whole blood serotonin and plasma beta-endorphin in autistic probands and their first-degree relatives
Abstract
Background Whole blood serotonin (5-HT) and C-terminally directed beta-endorphin protein immunoreactivity (C-ter-beta-EP-ir) are known to be elevated in autistic subjects and might be possible markers of genetic liability to autism. This study thus investigates the familial aggregation of 5-HT and of C-ter-beta-EP-ir levels in first degree relatives of autistic probands.Methods In a sample of 62 autistic subjects and 122 of their first-degree relatives, compared to age and sex-matched controls, we measured 5-HT by radioenzymology and C-ter-beta-EP-ir by radioimmunoassay.Results We confirm the previously reported familiality of hyperserotoninemia in autism as mothers (51%), fathers (45%) and siblings (87%) have elevated levels of 5-HT, and we reveal presence of elevated levels of C-ter-beta-EP-ir in mothers (53%) of autistic subjects.Conclusions Familial aggregation of quantitative variables, such as concentration of neurotransmitters, within unaffected relative could serve as an intermediate phenotype and might thus help the search of genetic susceptibility factors in autism.
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Whole-blood 5-HT levels demonstrate strong heritability.
“Although studies demonstrate a strong heritability of whole-blood 5-HT levels [41–44]”
From Serotonin as a link between the gut-brain-microbiome axis in autism spectrum disorders (2018) · cites this paper as [44]
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- Authors
- Leboyer, M., Philippe, A., Bouvard, M., Guilloud-Bataille, M., Bondoux, D., Tabuteau, F., Feingold, J., Mouren-Simeoni, M.-C., & Launay, J.-M.
- Affiliations
- Inserm (FR)
- Hôpital Robert-Debré (FR)
- Hôpital Lariboisière (FR)
- Corresponding author
- Leboyer, Marion
- Venue
- Biological Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1999-01
- Volume
- 45
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 158-163
- ISSN
- 0006-3223 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1976571596
- Cited by
- 194
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 5.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Biological Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, serotonin, beta-endorphin, familial aggregation, first-degree relatives, genetic susceptibility, endophenotypes, neurotransmitter levels, mothers of autistic children
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Autistic Disorder, beta-Endorphin, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Intelligence Tests, Male, Radioimmunoassay, Retrospective Studies, Serotonin, Statistics, Nonparametric
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