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Evaluation of Erythropoietin and Erythropoietin Receptor Levels in Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder:
Erkan Oner1, Ergul Belge Kurutas2, Hatice Altun3
1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Adiyaman University, Adiyaman, Türkiye.
Insights
Reduced erythropoietin (Epo) levels were found in children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). This suggests Epo may play a role in ASD pathophysiology and could be a potential therapeutic target.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition with unknown causes.
- Erythropoietin (Epo), a growth factor, has neuroprotective and neurotrophic effects in the nervous system.
- Epo is expressed in various brain cells, including neurons, glial cells, and endothelial cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serum levels of erythropoietin (Epo) and its receptor (EpoR) in children with ASD.
- To explore the potential role of the Epo-EpoR axis in the pathophysiology of ASD.
Main Methods:
- The study included 50 children diagnosed with ASD and 50 healthy controls.
- Serum samples were analyzed for Epo and EpoR levels.
- ASD severity was assessed using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in age or sex were observed between the ASD and control groups.
- Children with ASD exhibited significantly lower serum Epo levels compared to the control group.
- A trend towards increased EpoR levels was noted in the ASD cohort.
Conclusions:
- Reduced Epo levels and potential EpoR dysregulation in ASD suggest a role for the Epo-EpoR axis in ASD pathophysiology.
- Epo may hold potential as an adjunctive therapy for children with ASD.
- Further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore therapeutic interventions targeting the Epo-EpoR pathway.
Objective:
Autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) are a heterogeneous collection of neurodevelopmental disorders with an unknown etiology. Erythropoietin is a versatile growth factor that plays a crucial role in the nervous system, exhibiting high expression in various regions of the brain, including neurons, glial cells and endothelial cells. Recent animal studies have demonstrated that Epo exerts neuroprotective and neurotrophic effects. The objective of this study was to examine the levels of erythropoietin-(Epo) and its receptor-(EpoR) in children with ASD and to elucidate the potential effects of Epo in the disorder.
Methods:
The study involved 50 children diagnosed with ASD based on the 5th Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria, with ASD severity assessed using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale. Additionally, a control group of 50 healthy children was included. Serum samples were collected from both groups, and levels of Epo and its EpoR.
Results:
There were no statistically significant differences between the age and sex distributions of the ASD and control groups (p > 0.05). However, analysis of the serum samples revealed a statistically significant reduction in Epo levels in the ASD cohort compared to the control.
Conclusion:
The results of our study indicate that Epo may have potential as an adjunctive therapy for children with ASD. The observed decrease in Epo levels and increase in EpoR levels in children with ASD suggest a dysregulation in the Epo-EpoR axis that may contribute to the pathophysiology of ASD. Further research is required to investigate the therapeutic effects of modulating Epo levels in ASD and to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these changes.
