Potential biomarkers of ASD a target for future treatments: oxidative stress, chemokines, apoptotic, and methylation capacity

Moushira Zaki; Eman R. Youness; Hisham A. Orban; Hend M. Ahmed; Rehab S.I. Moustafa; Fatma A. Alzaree; Engy A. Ashaat; Hala T. El-Bassyouni

doi:10.1515/jcim-2024-0145

Article

Potential biomarkers of ASD a target for future treatments: oxidative stress, chemokines, apoptotic, and methylation capacity

Moushira Zaki , Eman R. Youness , Hisham A. Orban , Hend M. Ahmed , Rehab S.I. Moustafa , Fatma A. Alzaree , Engy A. Ashaat and Hala T. El-Bassyouni

Published/Copyright: July 4, 2024

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From the journal Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine Volume 21 Issue 3

Abstract

Objectives

The study aimed to assess the effect of these biomarkers on a sample of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to help in early diagnosis and intervention.

Methods

A total of 71 autistic patients and 65 normal controls were enrolled in this study. Their ages ranged from 5 to 11 years (mean ± SD 7.47 ± 3.81). Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) was assessed for all patients and controls. Assessment of oxidative stress, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, B-cell lymphoma 2, S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), and apelin was performed.

Results

Oxidative stress (oxidized low-density lipoprotein and malonaldehyde) increased while antioxidant paraoxonase (PON) decreased. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, B-cell lymphoma 2, and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) were all elevated whereas, apelin was downregulated.

Conclusions

It is important to note that many factors that may contribute to ASD including genetic factors. To open the door for novel treatment strategies, it is still necessary to precisely understand how oxidative stress, chemokines, apoptosis, and methylation capability affect the metabolism of people with ASD.

Keywords: autism spectrum disorder; oxidative stress; monocyte chemoattractant protein-1; B-cell lymphoma 2; S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH); apelin

Corresponding author: Moushira Zaki, Biological Anthropology Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute–National Research Centre Cairo, Cairo, Egypt, E-mail: moushiraz@yahoo.com

Acknowledgment

We thank all the participants.

Research ethics: The lab protocols and recruitment practices used in the study were in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki, according to a certification issued by the National Research Centre Ethical Research Committee (number 2-2-0, 02/2023).
Informed consent: Not applicable.
Author contributions: MZ conceived the study; RM and AA, EA collected the data; ERY, HO, HA ERY did the biochemical analysis. MZ and HB wrote, reviewed, and proofread the final manuscript.
Competing interests: The authors state no conflict of interest.
Research funding: None declared.
Data availability: The authors can provide the materials and data used in this study upon request.

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Received: 2024-04-29

Accepted: 2024-06-17

Published Online: 2024-07-04

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/jcim-2024-0145

Keywords for this article

autism spectrum disorder; oxidative stress; monocyte chemoattractant protein-1; B-cell lymphoma 2; S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH); apelin