Abstract
Background: Autism can occur as a result of a complex interaction between environmental factors and genetic predisposition. Mercury is a neurotoxicant and it is one of the main environmental triggers for autoimmunity. The underlying pathogenic mechanism in autoimmune disorders is the formation of auto-antibodies. Brain specific autoantibodies are elevated in a subgroup of autistic children. We are the first to study the relation between blood mercury levels and the seropositivity of anti-myelin basic protein (anti-MBP) autoantibodies in autistic children. Methods: Blood mercury levels were measured, by atomic absorption spectrometry, and serum levels of anti- MBP auto-antibodies were measured, by ELISA, in 100 children with autism aged between 5-12 years and 100 healthy-matched control children. Results: Serum levels of blood mercury were significantly higher in autistic children than healthy controls (P<0.001). Increased levels of blood mercury were found in 48% of autistic patients. In addition, 72% of autistic children had positive results of serum anti-MBP auto-antibodies. There was a significant positive association between the elevated levels of blood mercury and the positivity of serum anti-MBP auto-antibodies in autistic children (P<0.001). Conclusions: Blood mercury levels were elevated in some autistic children and they were significantly associated with the production of serum anti-MBP auto-antibodies in a group of autistic children. Further research is warranted to determine if the production of brain auto-antibodies is triggered by environmental mercury exposure in autistic children. The possible therapeutic role of mercury chelators in autistic children should be also studied.
Highlights
In view of the possible multifactorial cause, autism can occur as a result of environment neurotoxicant heavy metals exposure such as mercury and lead in presence of genetic predisposition in some autistic children [1,2,3,4,5]
There were no significant correlations between serum levels of blood mercury levels and the age of autistic children, P>0.05
The current study revealed that autistic patients with increased blood mercury levels had significantly higher frequency of positive results of serum anti-MBP auto-antibodies (91.6%) than patients with normal blood mercury levels (53.8%), P
Summary
In view of the possible multifactorial cause, autism can occur as a result of environment neurotoxicant heavy metals exposure such as mercury and lead in presence of genetic predisposition in some autistic children [1,2,3,4,5]. With increases in the environmental mercury exposure, there was a significant increase in the rates of autism and special education students. For each 1,000 lb increase of the environmental mercury exposure, there was 61% increase in the rate of autism and 43%. Mercury is a neurotoxicant and it is one of the main environmental triggers for autoimmunity. We are the first to study the relation between blood mercury levels and the seropositivity of anti-myelin basic protein (anti-MBP) autoantibodies in autistic children
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
