Abstract
BackgroundAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disease characterized by difficulties in social communication, unusually restricted, repetitive behavior and interests, and specific abnormalities in language and perception. The precise etiology of ASD is still unknown and probably heterogeneous. In a subgroup of patients, toxic environmental exposure might lead to an imbalance between oxidative stress and anti-oxidant systems. Previous serum and postmortem studies measuring levels of glutathione (GSH), the main cellular free radical scavenger in the brain, have supported the hypothesis that this compound might play a role in the pathophysiology of autism.MethodsUsing the method of single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), we analyzed the GSH signal in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of 24 ASD patients with normal or above average IQs and 18 matched control subjects. We hypothesized that we would find decreased GSH concentrations in both regions.ResultsWe did not find overall group differences in neurometabolites including GSH, neither in the dorsal ACC (Wilks’ lambda test; p = 0.429) nor in the DLPFC (p = 0.288). In the dACC, we found a trend for decreased GSH signals in ASD patients (p = 0.076).ConclusionsWe were unable to confirm our working hypothesis regarding decreased GSH concentrations in the ASD group. Further studies combining MRS, serum, and cerebrospinal fluid measurements of GSH metabolism including other regions of interest or even whole brain spectroscopy are needed.
Highlights
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disease characterized by difficulties in social communication, unusually restricted, repetitive behavior and interests, and specific abnormalities in language and perception
Interpretation of our findings in the context of earlier studies This was the first study analyzing anterior cingulate GSH signals, and we only found a tendency for decreased GSH concentrations
We found a negative correlation between the GSH signals in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and the Intelligence quotients (IQ) scores; the association between high IQ figures and low GSH levels is contrary to earlier research, which assumed impairment in cognitive function with reducing GSH levels [74]
Summary
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disease characterized by difficulties in social communication, unusually restricted, repetitive behavior and interests, and specific abnormalities in language and perception. The precise etiology of ASD is still unknown and probably heterogeneous. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties in social communication and unusually restricted, repetitive behavior and interests with a strong desire for routines [1, 2]. ASD is an etiologically and phenotypically heterogeneous disorder [3]. While the International Classification of Diseases, tenth edition (ICD-10) distinguishes childhood autism (F84.0), atypical autism (F84.1), and Asperger syndrome (ICD-10 F84.5) (www.dimdi.de/static/de/klassi/icd-10-gm/kodesuch e/onlinefassungen/htmlgm2015/block-f80-f89.htm), in the current fifth version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), these categories are summarized into a single category called ASD (299.00) (www.dsm5.org). ASD is associated with high prevalence rates of comorbid classical
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