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A Search for Blood Biomarkers for Autism: Peptoids
Sayed Zaman1, Umar Yazdani1, Yan Deng1
1Department of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas TX.
Insights
Researchers identified a specific antibody biomarker for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This discovery may lead to earlier diagnosis of ASD in children by detecting reduced IgG1 antibody levels.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition impacting social interaction, communication, and behavior.
- Early identification and intervention are crucial for individuals with ASD.
- Immune system alterations are observed in children with ASD, suggesting potential for immune-based biomarkers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify novel antibody biomarkers for early detection of ASD.
- To screen peptoid libraries for compounds binding preferentially to IgG from boys with ASD.
Main Methods:
- Screening of complex peptoid libraries against IgG from boys with ASD and typically developing (TD) boys.
- Further characterization of a specific peptoid (ASD1) that showed differential binding.
- Quantification of IgG1 subtype levels in serum samples from TD boys, ASD boys, and adult males.
Main Results:
- Unexpectedly, several peptoids preferentially bound IgG from TD boys.
- One peptoid (ASD1) demonstrated significantly higher binding to IgG1 in TD boys compared to ASD boys and older adult males (>2-fold).
- ASD boys exhibited reduced IgG1 antibody levels (>50%) compared to TD boys, similar to levels seen in older adults.
Conclusions:
- ASD boys show significantly lower levels of a specific IgG1 antibody compared to typically developing boys.
- The ASD1 peptoid demonstrated 66% accuracy in predicting ASD in this discovery study.
- These findings suggest a potential IgG1 antibody biomarker for ASD, warranting further investigation for early diagnostic applications.
Abstract:
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication, and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior. In order to identify individuals with ASD and initiate interventions at the earliest possible age, biomarkers for the disorder are desirable. Research findings have identified widespread changes in the immune system in children with autism, at both systemic and cellular levels. In an attempt to find candidate antibody biomarkers for ASD, highly complex libraries of peptoids (oligo-N-substituted glycines) were screened for compounds that preferentially bind IgG from boys with ASD over typically developing (TD) boys. Unexpectedly, many peptoids were identified that preferentially bound IgG from TD boys. One of these peptoids was studied further and found to bind significantly higher levels (>2-fold) of the IgG1 subtype in serum from TD boys (n = 60) compared to ASD boys (n = 74), as well as compared to older adult males (n = 53). Together these data suggest that ASD boys have reduced levels (>50%) of an IgG1 antibody, which resembles the level found normally with advanced age. In this discovery study, the ASD1 peptoid was 66% accurate in predicting ASD.
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