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Cited by 117Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchGenetics and Neurodevelopmental DisordersNeuroendocrine regulation and behavior

Association of social and cognitive impairment and biomarkers in autism spectrum disorders

Open access
Alabdali, Altaf, Al-Ayadhi, Laila, El-Ansary, Afaf·2014·Journal of Neuroinflammation
DOI 10.1186/1742-2094-11-4PMC PMC3896747
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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The neurological basis for autism is still not fully understood, and the role of the interaction between neuro-inflammation and neurotransmission impairment needs to be clearer. This study aims to test the possible association between impaired levels of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, and interferon-γ-induced protein-16 (IFI16) and the severity of social and cognitive dysfunctions in individuals with autism spectrum disorders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: GABA, serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, and IFI16 as biochemical parameters related to neurochemistry and inflammation were determined in the plasma of 52 Saudi autistic male patients, categorized as mild-moderate and severe as indicated by their Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) or social responsiveness scale (SRS), and compared to 30 age- and gender-matched control samples. RESULTS: The data indicated that Saudi patients with autism have remarkably impaired plasma levels of the measured parameters compared to age and gender-matched controls. While serotonin in platelet-free plasma and dopamine did not correlated with the severity in social and cognitive dysfunction, GABA, oxytocin, and IFI16 were remarkably associated with the severity of both tested scores (SRS and CARS). CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between the selected parameters confirms the role of impaired neurochemistry and neuro-inflammation in the etiology of autism spectrum disorders and the possibility of using GABA, oxytocin, and IFI16 as markers of autism severity. 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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References 78 · Cited by 117

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Authors
Alabdali, A., Al-Ayadhi, L., & El-Ansary, A.
Affiliations
King Saud University (SA)
Corresponding author
El-Ansary, Afaf
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Neuroinflammation
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2014-01-08
Volume
11
Issue
1
Pages
4-4
ISSN
1742-2094 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1186/1742-2094-11-4
PMC
PMC3896747
OpenAlex
W1992353280
Cited by
117
References
78
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 1
FWCI
7.07
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Journal of Neuroinflammation (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • King Saud University
  • King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology
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, social dysfunction, cognitive impairment, biomarkers, GABA, serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, IFI16, neuroinflammation, neurochemistry, autism severity, plasma biomarkers
MeSH terms
Child, Child Development Disorders, Pervasive, Child, Preschool, Cognition Disorders, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Humans, Male, Oxytocin, Statistics as Topic, Biomarkers, Neurotransmitter Agents, Area Under Curve, Mitochondrial Proteins

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