Increased Serum Levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha, Resistin, and Visfatin in the Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Case-Control Study.

Mohammad Ali Ghaffari,Forough Riahi,Mohammad Reza Afsharmanesh,Elham Mousavinejad,Masoumeh Mousavinejad

doi:10.1155/2016/9060751

Mohammad Ali Ghaffari, Forough Riahi + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/9060751

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Abstract

Background. Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are complex disorders where the pathogenesis is not fully understood. Several proinflammatory and immunoinflammatory disturbances have been observed in the etiology of ASD. There is, however, limited knowledge on variations of adipokines in ASD. The present study aimed to analyze the serum levels of resistin, visfatin, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in children with ASD in relation to body weight, gender, and ASD severity level. Method. In total, 30 children with ASD (mean age: 7.72 ± 2.65 y; range; 4–12 y) and 30 healthy children (mean age: 8.4 ± 2.66 y; range: 4–12 y), including males and females, were matched for age, gender, and body mass index (BMI). Serum samples were collected, and visfatin, resistin, and TNF-α serum levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Result. Serum visfatin, resistin, and TNF-α levels in children with ASD were significantly higher than that in the healthy patients (p < 0.05). Two significant correlations were found: a correlation between resistin and visfatin with TNF-α in children with ASD (R = 0.8 and R = 0.62, resp.) and a correlation between resistin and visfatin in children with ASD (R = 0.66). Conclusion. Higher TNF-α, resistin, and visfatin levels were found in children with ASD in comparison with controls, suggesting that elevated levels of serum proinflammatory agents may be implicated in the pathophysiology of ASD.

Highlights

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are pervasive neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by clinical impairments that result in deficits in interacting with the environment and social, individual, and behavioral skills [1]
TNF-α was higher in the ASD group in comparison with controls; this was true for resistin (Table 2)
This study was designed to determine whether serum levels of TNF-α, resistin, and visfatin were altered in children with ASD without additional comorbid diseases

Summary

Introduction

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are pervasive neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by clinical impairments that result in deficits in interacting with the environment and social, individual, and behavioral skills [1]. The immune system produces and releases a variety of immunoinflammatory and proinflammatory factors including the adipokines such as visfatin, resistin, leptin, and adiponectin, cytokines, and chemokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) [11]. The present study aimed to analyze the serum levels of resistin, visfatin, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in children with ASD in relation to body weight, gender, and ASD severity level. Resistin, and TNF-α levels in children with ASD were significantly higher than that in the healthy patients (p < 0.05). Higher TNF-α, resistin, and visfatin levels were found in children with ASD in comparison with controls, suggesting that elevated levels of serum proinflammatory agents may be implicated in the pathophysiology of ASD

Methods

Results

Conclusion