Cited by 202Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchTryptophan and brain disordersChild Nutrition and Feeding Issues

Children with autism spectrum disorders, who improved with a luteolin-containing dietary formulation, show reduced serum levels of TNF and IL-6

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Tsilioni, I, Taliou, A, Francis, K, Theoharides, T C·2015·Translational Psychiatry

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have been associated with brain inflammation as indicated by microglia activation, as well as brain expression and increased plasma levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Here we report that serum levels of IL-6 and TNF were elevated (61.95±94.76 pg ml−1 and 313.8±444.3 pg ml−1, respectively) in the same cohort of patients with elevated serum levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and neurotensin (NT), while IL-9, IL-31 and IL-33 were not different from controls. The elevated CRH and NT levels did not change after treatment with a luteolin-containing dietary formulation. However, the mean serum IL-6 and TNF levels decreased significantly (P=0.036 and P=0.015, respectively) at the end of the treatment period (26 weeks) as compared with levels at the beginning; these decreases were strongly associated with children whose behavior improved the most after luteolin formulation treatment. Our results indicate that there are distinct subgroups of children within the ASDs that may be identifiable through serum levels of IL-6 and TNF and that these cytokines may constitute distinct prognostic markers for at least the beneficial effect of luteolin formulation.

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  • Several pre-clinical and clinical studies found increased levels of inflammatory markers in the systemic circulation of ASD individuals when compared to neurotypical controls, such as increased IL-1B and heightened systemic TNF-alpha.

    “Several pre-clinical and clinical studies found increased levels of inflammatory markers in the systemic circulation of ASD individuals when compared to neurotypical controls, such as increased IL-1B [107, 108] and heightened systemic TNF-alpha [108–110].”

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Kandere-Grzybowska K, Kempuraj D, Letourneau L, Asare A, Athanasiou A, Theoharides TC. IL-1 induces differential release of IL-6 form human mast cells. FASEB J 2002; 16: A332.

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Authors
Tsilioni, I., Taliou, A., Francis, K., & Theoharides, T. C.
Affiliations
  • Tufts University (US)
  • National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (GR)
Corresponding author
Theoharides, T C
Venue
Translational Psychiatry
Published
2015-09-29
Volume
5
Issue
9
Pages
e647-e647
ISSN
2158-3188 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2207328331
Cited by
199
References
87
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 1
FWCI
6.81
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Translational Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Brenen Hornstein Autism Research & Education Foundation
  • Autism Research Institute
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
Keywords
autism spectrum disorder, luteolin, diet formulation, interleukin-6, TNF-α, serum cytokines, corticotropin-releasing factor, neurotensin, neuroinflammation, microglial activation, prognostic factors, children
MeSH terms
Autism Spectrum Disorder, Behavioral Symptoms, Child, Child, Preschool, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone, Diet Therapy, Female, Food, Formulated, Humans, Inflammation, Male, Neurotensin, Prognosis, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha, Reproducibility of Results, Interleukin-6, Treatment Outcome, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Luteolin

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