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Published on: April 22, 2015
Investigation of the Relation between Epithelial Barrier Function and Autism Symptom Severity in Children with Autism
Kevser Nalbant1, Semih Erden2, Abdullah Yazar3
1Medical Faculty, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. drkevser@yahoo.com.
Insights
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show lower levels of the protein occludin, indicating impaired epithelial barrier function. This finding may help understand ASD
Area of Science:
- Neurobiology
- Gastroenterology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by social communication deficits and repetitive behaviors.
- Biological underpinnings of ASD, including epithelial barrier function, are areas of active research.
- Altered gut-brain axis signaling is increasingly implicated in ASD pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate epithelial barrier function in children with ASD.
- To compare serum levels of occludin and zonulin between children with ASD and neurotypical controls.
- To explore the association between epithelial barrier markers and ASD symptom severity.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 60 children with ASD and 30 controls.
- Serum occludin and zonulin concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
- Autism symptom severity was assessed using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS).
Main Results:
- Children with ASD exhibited significantly lower serum occludin levels compared to controls.
- Reduced occludin levels in ASD were significantly correlated with higher CARS total scores.
- Zonulin levels were not significantly different between the groups (data not shown in abstract).
Conclusions:
- Children with ASD demonstrate compromised epithelial barrier function, evidenced by decreased serum occludin.
- Occludin levels may serve as a potential biomarker for ASD symptom severity.
- Further research into the mechanisms of occludin dysregulation is crucial for understanding ASD etiology and treatment.
Abstract:
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by limitations in mutual communication and social interaction as well as restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviors, interests, or activities. The possible role of biological abnormalities in the etiopathogenesis of this disorder arouses research interest in this area. This is a case-control study evaluating epithelial barrier function by comparing serum concentrations of occludin and zonulin in children with ASD (n = 60) and controls (n = 30). The Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) was used to evaluate autism symptom levels in all children. Serum occludin and zonulin levels were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum occludin was significantly lower in children with ASD than in control subjects. In children with ASD, a decrease in occludin level was significantly associated with the disorder symptom levels items mean score (CARS total scores). Our findings showed that children with ASD had alterations in epithelial barrier function compared to the control group. The investigation of the mechanism underlying the different levels of occludin between ASD and controls may be of importance in clarifying the etiopathogenesis of ASD, as well as its follow-up and treatment.
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