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Liu C, Guo Z, Pang J, Zhang Y, Yang Z, Cao J, Zhang T. Administration of Atosiban, an oxytocin receptor antagonist, ameliorates autistic-like behaviors in a female rat model of valproic acid-induced autism. Behav Brain Res 2024; 469:115052. [PMID: 38782096 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a pervasive developmental disorder with gender differences. Oxytocin (OXT) is currently an important candidate drug for autism, but the lack of data on female autism is a big issue. It has been reported that the effect of OXT is likely to be different between male and female ASD patients. In the study, we specifically explored the role of the OXT signaling pathway in a VPA-induced female rat's model of autism. The data showed that there was an increase of either oxytocin or its receptor expressions in both the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex of VPA-induced female offspring. To determine if the excess of OXT signaling contributed to autism symptoms in female rats, exogenous oxytocin and oxytocin receptor antagonists Atosiban were used in the experiment. It was found that exogenous oxytocin triggered autism-like behaviors in wild-type female rats by intranasal administration. More interestingly, several autism-like deficits including social interaction, anxiety, and repeat stereotypical sexual behavior in the VPA female offspring were significantly attenuated by oxytocin receptor antagonists Atosiban. Moreover, Atosiban also effectively improved the synaptic plasticity impairment induced by VPA in female offspring. Our results suggest that oxytocin receptor antagonists significantly improve autistic-like behaviors in a female rat model of valproic acid-induced autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunhua Liu
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China
| | - Zhengyang Guo
- College of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China
| | - Jiyi Pang
- College of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China
| | - Yuying Zhang
- College of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China
| | - Zhuo Yang
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China
| | - Jianting Cao
- Graduate School of Engineering, Saitama Institute of Technology, Fukaya 369-0217, Japan
| | - Tao Zhang
- College of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China.
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Ruan H, Eungpinichpong W, Wu H, Aonsri C. Effects of Parent-Delivered Traditional Thai Massage on Gait and Heart Rate Variability in Children with Autism: A Randomized Controlled Trial. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE 2024; 30:269-278. [PMID: 37713302 PMCID: PMC10954606 DOI: 10.1089/jicm.2023.0338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
Aim: To examine the effects of parent-delivered traditional Thai massage (TTM) intervention on heart rate variability (HRV) and gait in children with autism. Methods: This was a two-armed, randomized controlled trial conducted at the Haikou Special Education School in Haikou Province, China, between October 2021 and March 2022. A total of 48 children with autism, aged between 7 and 12 years, were selected from the school and randomly divided into either the parent-delivered TTM group or the control group (no intervention) in a 1:1 ratio. In addition to their regular daily school routines, the TTM group received 16 TTM interventions (twice a week), with each session lasting ∼50 min. HRV and gait parameters were measured at baseline, completion of the 8-week intervention, and 2 months follow-up. Results: The results of this study showed that the TTM intervention had a notable positive effect on HRV, with a significant reduction in low-frequency value (p = 0.001), and increased high-frequency value (p = 0.001), compared with the controls, and the advantages persisted during the follow-up period. However, only the stride length in the TTM group was significantly longer than that in the control group at the post-test (p = 0.039) and follow-up test (p = 0.043), while none of the other parameters of gait comparison showed statistical significance. Conclusions: Parent-delivered Thai massage increased HRV levels and stride length in comparison to the control group, and some effects of the intervention were maintained over the follow-up period. Clinical Trials Registry Identifier ChiCTR2100051355; September 21, 2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Ruan
- Graduate School, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
- Physical Education, Hainan Normal University, Haikou, China
| | - Wichai Eungpinichpong
- BNOJHP Research Center, PT Division of Physical Therapy, Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Hua Wu
- Physical Education, Hainan Normal University, Haikou, China
- BNOJHP Research Center, PT Division of Physical Therapy, Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Chanada Aonsri
- Department of Special Education, Khon Kaen University Demonstration School, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
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3
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Haaf R, Brandi ML, Albantakis L, Lahnakoski JM, Henco L, Schilbach L. Peripheral oxytocin levels are linked to hypothalamic gray matter volume in autistic adults: a cross-sectional secondary data analysis. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1380. [PMID: 38228703 PMCID: PMC10791615 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50770-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin (OXT) is known to modulate social behavior and cognition and has been discussed as pathophysiological and therapeutic factor for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). An accumulating body of evidence indicates the hypothalamus to be of particular importance with regard to the underlying neurobiology. Here we used a region of interest voxel-based morphometry (VBM) approach to investigate hypothalamic gray matter volume (GMV) in autistic (n = 29, age 36.03 ± 11.0) and non-autistic adults (n = 27, age 30.96 ± 11.2). Peripheral plasma OXT levels and the autism spectrum quotient (AQ) were used for correlation analyses. Results showed no differences in hypothalamic GMV in autistic compared to non-autistic adults but suggested a differential association between hypothalamic GMV and OXT levels, such that a positive association was found for the ASD group. In addition, hypothalamic GMV showed a positive association with autistic traits in the ASD group. Bearing in mind the limitations such as a relatively small sample size, a wide age range and a high rate of psychopharmacological treatment in the ASD sample, these results provide new preliminary evidence for a potentially important role of the HTH in ASD and its relationship to the OXT system, but also point towards the importance of interindividual differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raoul Haaf
- Independent Max Planck Research Group for Social Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany.
- Graduate School, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt- Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Marie-Luise Brandi
- Independent Max Planck Research Group for Social Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Laura Albantakis
- Independent Max Planck Research Group for Social Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
- Outpatient and Day Clinic for Disorders of Social Interaction, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Juha M Lahnakoski
- Independent Max Planck Research Group for Social Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine, Brain and Behaviour (INM-7), Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Lara Henco
- Independent Max Planck Research Group for Social Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Munich, Germany
| | - Leonhard Schilbach
- Independent Max Planck Research Group for Social Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
- Outpatient and Day Clinic for Disorders of Social Interaction, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Munich, Germany
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
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4
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Menon R, Neumann ID. Detection, processing and reinforcement of social cues: regulation by the oxytocin system. Nat Rev Neurosci 2023; 24:761-777. [PMID: 37891399 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-023-00759-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Many social behaviours are evolutionarily conserved and are essential for the healthy development of an individual. The neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) is crucial for the fine-tuned regulation of social interactions in mammals. The advent and application of state-of-the-art methodological approaches that allow the activity of neuronal circuits involving OXT to be monitored and functionally manipulated in laboratory mammals have deepened our understanding of the roles of OXT in these behaviours. In this Review, we discuss how OXT promotes the sensory detection and evaluation of social cues, the subsequent approach and display of social behaviour, and the rewarding consequences of social interactions in selected reproductive and non-reproductive social behaviours. Social stressors - such as social isolation, exposure to social defeat or social trauma, and partner loss - are often paralleled by maladaptations of the OXT system, and restoring OXT system functioning can reinstate socio-emotional allostasis. Thus, the OXT system acts as a dynamic mediator of appropriate behavioural adaptations to environmental challenges by enhancing and reinforcing social salience and buffering social stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohit Menon
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Inga D Neumann
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
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5
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Cuesta-Marti C, Uhlig F, Muguerza B, Hyland N, Clarke G, Schellekens H. Microbes, oxytocin and stress: Converging players regulating eating behavior. J Neuroendocrinol 2023; 35:e13243. [PMID: 36872624 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Oxytocin is a peptide-hormone extensively studied for its multifaceted biological functions and has recently gained attention for its role in eating behavior, through its action as an anorexigenic neuropeptide. Moreover, the gut microbiota is involved in oxytocinergic signaling through the brain-gut axis, specifically in the regulation of social behavior. The gut microbiota is also implicated in appetite regulation and is postulated to play a role in central regulation of hedonic eating. In this review, we provide an overview on oxytocin and its individual links with the microbiome, the homeostatic and non-homeostatic regulation of eating behavior as well as social behavior and stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Cuesta-Marti
- Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- APC Microbiome Ireland, Cork, Ireland
| | - Friederike Uhlig
- APC Microbiome Ireland, Cork, Ireland
- Department of Physiology, University College Cork, Ireland
| | - Begoña Muguerza
- Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- APC Microbiome Ireland, Cork, Ireland
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, Nutrigenomics Research Group, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Niall Hyland
- APC Microbiome Ireland, Cork, Ireland
- Department of Physiology, University College Cork, Ireland
| | - Gerard Clarke
- APC Microbiome Ireland, Cork, Ireland
- Department of Psychiatry & Neurobehavioural Science, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Harriët Schellekens
- Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- APC Microbiome Ireland, Cork, Ireland
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6
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Griffioen RE, van Boxtel GJM, Verheggen T, Enders-Slegers MJ, Van Der Steen S. Group Changes in Cortisol and Heart Rate Variability of Children with Down Syndrome and Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder during Dog-Assisted Therapy. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:1200. [PMID: 37508697 PMCID: PMC10378440 DOI: 10.3390/children10071200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Dog-assisted therapy is hypothesized to lower stress in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and children with Down syndrome (DS), which may be visible on a physiological level. In this study, we measured heart rate variability (HRV) and salivary cortisol of 20 children with DS or ASD at the beginning and end of six weekly sessions of dog-assisted therapy. We found a decrease of cortisol levels during single sessions, but no overall effect after six sessions (six weeks). The effect of dog-assisted therapy on the increase of HRV could not be confirmed. This study is one of the first to use physiological measurements to test the effects of DAT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard E Griffioen
- Department of Animal Assisted Interventions, Aeres University of Applied Sciences, De Drieslag 4, 8251 JZ Dronten, The Netherlands
| | - Geert J M van Boxtel
- Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, Professor Cobbenhagenlaan, 5037 AB Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - Theo Verheggen
- Department of Psychology and Education, Open University The Netherlands, Valkenburgerweg 177, 6419 AT Heerlen, The Netherlands
| | - Marie-Jose Enders-Slegers
- Department of Psychology and Education, Open University The Netherlands, Valkenburgerweg 177, 6419 AT Heerlen, The Netherlands
| | - Steffie Van Der Steen
- Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, University of Groningen, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, The Netherlands
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Alban AQ, Alhaddad AY, Al-Ali A, So WC, Connor O, Ayesh M, Ahmed Qidwai U, Cabibihan JJ. Heart Rate as a Predictor of Challenging Behaviours among Children with Autism from Wearable Sensors in Social Robot Interactions. ROBOTICS 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/robotics12020055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Children with autism face challenges in various skills (e.g., communication and social) and they exhibit challenging behaviours. These challenging behaviours represent a challenge to their families, therapists, and caregivers, especially during therapy sessions. In this study, we have investigated several machine learning techniques and data modalities acquired using wearable sensors from children with autism during their interactions with social robots and toys in their potential to detect challenging behaviours. Each child wore a wearable device that collected data. Video annotations of the sessions were used to identify the occurrence of challenging behaviours. Extracted time features (i.e., mean, standard deviation, min, and max) in conjunction with four machine learning techniques were considered to detect challenging behaviors. The heart rate variability (HRV) changes have also been investigated in this study. The XGBoost algorithm has achieved the best performance (i.e., an accuracy of 99%). Additionally, physiological features outperformed the kinetic ones, with the heart rate being the main contributing feature in the prediction performance. One HRV parameter (i.e., RMSSD) was found to correlate with the occurrence of challenging behaviours. This work highlights the importance of developing the tools and methods to detect challenging behaviors among children with autism during aided sessions with social robots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Qadeib Alban
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
| | - Ahmad Yaser Alhaddad
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
| | - Abdulaziz Al-Ali
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
- KINDI Computing Research Center, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
| | - Wing-Chee So
- Department of Educational Psychology, Faculty of Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong
| | - Olcay Connor
- Step by Step Centre for Special Needs, Doha P.O. Box 47613, Qatar
| | - Malek Ayesh
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
| | - Uvais Ahmed Qidwai
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
| | - John-John Cabibihan
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
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Artık A, Çengel Kültür SE, Portakal O, Karaboncuk AY. The association between autistic traits and serum testosterone, oxytocin, and androstenedione levels in prepubertal male drug naive children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Int J Dev Neurosci 2023; 83:98-107. [PMID: 36398591 DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) might have similar problems as in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and show impairment in social behaviour. Also, there is a relationship between social relationship skills and ToM (theory of mind) skills of children with ADHD. Besides, ASD is associated with prenatal exposure to high levels of androgens, and oxytocin plays a role in the modulation of emotions, coping with stress, and social behaviour like ASD. In this study, the relationship between autistic traits and serum oxytocin, testosterone, and androstenedione levels in prepubertal male drug naive children with ADHD has been investigated. METHOD Eighty-three prepubertal children, who were diagnosed with ADHD between the ages of 6-10 years old, are included in the study. For the study, intelligence levels were evaluated by using WISC-4, and autistic traits were measured by using both social responsiveness scale and theory of mind tests. In addition, serum oxytocin, testosterone, and androstenedione levels were measured by using ELISA. RESULTS It has been found that serum testosterone levels of patients with lower autistic traits are significantly lower than those with moderate and severe autistic traits, while the serum oxytocin levels are significantly higher. Also, patients with severe autistic traits have had significantly higher serum androstenedione levels than those with lower and moderate autistic traits. CONCLUSION This study suggests that patients who have higher autistic traits have elevated testosterone and androstenedione levels and lower serum oxytocin levels. Further studies are needed to clarify this relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulbaki Artık
- Faculty of Medicine, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Department, Uşak University, Uşak, Turkey
| | - Sadriye Ebru Çengel Kültür
- Faculty of Medicine, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Department, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Oytun Portakal
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
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9
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Peripheral oxytocin concentrations in psychiatric disorders - A systematic review and methanalysis: Further evidence. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2022; 117:110561. [PMID: 35461971 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2022.110561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Increased interest in understanding how changes in the oxytocinergic system are associated with the etiology and progression of psychiatric disorders has currently boosted the publication of studies. We present a systematic literature review followed by meta-analyses assessing whether peripheral oxytocin (OXT) levels among psychiatric patients differ from healthy controls, considering the moderating role of methodological aspects and samples' characteristics. The following electronic databases were searched: PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, SciELO, LILACS, and Scopus. Fifty-five papers were included in the analysis, and nine independent meta-analyses were performed according to the different diagnoses. Lower OXT concentrations were found in groups of specific disorders (i.e., schizophrenia, restricting and binge-eating/purging subtypes of anorexia nervosa, and borderline personality disorder) with medium to large effect sizes. Great heterogeneity was found among the studies, so that caution is needed to interpret the results. High OXT levels with an effect size of the same magnitude were found for bipolar disorder - type I and obsessive disorder. In contrast, no differences were found for bulimia, autism spectrum, depression, or social anxiety. No meta-analyses were performed for body dysmorphic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or trichotillomania because only one study was identified for each of these disorders. Altered endogenous OXT concentrations are found in several disorders addressed and must be analyzed according to each disorder's specificities.
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10
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Masdrakis VG, Papageorgiou C, Markianos M. Correlations of plasma oxytocin with clinical and hormonal parameters in panic disorder. Nord J Psychiatry 2022; 77:221-226. [PMID: 35714973 DOI: 10.1080/08039488.2022.2083675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
AIMS The potential association between oxytocin (OXT) plasma levels and clinical and hormonal parameters in panic disorder (PD) especially in its acute phase - has not been investigated as yet. This was the aim of this article. METHOD Twenty-four consecutively-referred, acutely-ill, medication-free PD patients with (PDA, N = 21) or without agoraphobia, moreover without comorbidities, completed the following clinical measures: Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS); Agoraphobic Cognitions Questionnaire (ACQ); Mobility Inventory-Alone subscale (MI-alone); and number of panic attacks during last 21 d (PA21d). Plasma levels of OXT, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol were evaluated. RESULTS OXT levels were significantly, negatively associated with the HARS scores (r= -0.59 p=.002) and weakly, negatively correlated with the ACQ scores (r = -0.403 p=.051). No significant correlations were traced between OXT levels and PA21d, MI-alone, ACTH, and cortisol. CONCLUSION In acutely-ill, medication-free PD patients, OXT plasma levels may be relevant to the severity of their 'general' anxiety symptoms, but not to the 'specific' panic psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasilios G Masdrakis
- First Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Eginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Charalambos Papageorgiou
- First Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Eginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Manolis Markianos
- First Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Eginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Hering A, Jieu B, Jones A, Muttenthaler M. Approaches to Improve the Quantitation of Oxytocin in Human Serum by Mass Spectrometry. Front Chem 2022; 10:889154. [PMID: 35755255 PMCID: PMC9218718 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.889154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) regulates several peripheral and central functions and is a molecule of interest in psychiatric diseases such as autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety and depression. The study of OT in human serum samples is however hampered by inconsistent sample preparation and analysis as well as low endogenous blood concentration (1-10 pM). This results in varying reports on OT's blood levels and interpretation of OT's role in different (patho)physiological states. Quantitative mass spectrometry (MS) is a highly promising technology to address this problem but still requires large sample volumes to achieve adequate sensitivity and reliability for the quantitation of compounds at low concentrations. We therefore systematically evaluated sample preparation methods for MS to achieve a reliable sample preparation protocol with good peptide recovery, minimal matrix effects and good overall method efficiency in line with FDA guidelines for bioanalytic method development and validation. Additionally, we investigated a strategy to improve the ionization efficiency of OT by adding charged and/or hydrophobic moieties to OT to improve the lower limit of quantitation. Optimized sample preparation in combination with OT modification with a quaternary pyridinium ion improved the sensitivity of OT by ∼40-fold on a tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (API4000 QTRAP), resulting in a lower limit of quantitation of 5 pM in water (linear range 5 pM - 1 mM) and 2 nM in human serum (linear range 2 nM - 1 mM) compared to 200 pM in water and 86 nM in serum with unmodified OT. This approach and protocol provide a solid foundation towards method development for OT quantitation using MS, which should be of high value for fundamental research as well as clinical monitoring of OT upon drug treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anke Hering
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Beverly Jieu
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Alun Jones
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Markus Muttenthaler
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Al-Ali Z, Yasseen AA, Al-Dujailli A, Al-Karaqully AJ, McAllister KA, Jumaah AS. The oxytocin receptor gene polymorphism rs2268491 and serum oxytocin alterations are indicative of autism spectrum disorder: A case-control paediatric study in Iraq with personalized medicine implications. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0265217. [PMID: 35316293 PMCID: PMC8939799 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Impairment of social functioning skills is a key hallmark of autism. The neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) is a blood-based biomarker of social functioning, and a candidate for individualized treatment of ASD. The effects of OXT on the social brain are mediated by the OXT receptor (OXTR). This study assessed the clinical utility of blood OXT serum levels and the OXT receptor (OXTR) genotype as biomarkers of autism and its severity in a pediatric population in Iraq.
Methods
Blood samples were collected from patients with a clinical diagnosis of ASD (n = 60) and corresponding age and gender matched healthy controls (n = 60). All clinical samples were processed at the Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kufa in Iraq. Blood serum was assayed for OXT by sandwich ELISA. Receiver operator analysis (ROC) determined area under the curve (AUC), cutoff values, and sensitivity and specificity of OXT values for accuracy of diagnosis of ASD. Isolated genomic DNA was genotyped for the OXTR gene rs2268491(C/T) SNP using allele-specific PCR. The significance of genotype (CC, CT, and TT) and allele (C and T) distributions in different patient groups was assessed using odd ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and the Chi-square test. All statistical analysis was performed used SPSS software.
Results
Study characteristics in the ASD population revealed a high level of consanguinity (36.66%), and ASD recurrence rate (11.66%) and family history (28.33%). OXT levels in patients with ASD (157.58±28.81 pg/ml) were significantly higher (p = 0.003) compared to controls (75.03±6.38 pg/ml). Within stratified ASD severity groups—OXT levels were significantly different (P = 0.032). ROC analysis determined similar AUC values for overall ASD (0.807), and stratified mild (0.793), moderate (0.889), and severe categories (0.795). The best cutoff for diagnosis of ASD was 83.8 pg/ml OXT with a sensitivity and specificity of 80% and 72.1% respectively. OXTR gene rs2268491(C/T) genotyping found that ASD patients have significantly lower (p = 0.021) genotype CC frequency and a significantly higher (p = 0.04) occurrence of the heterozygous CT genotype relative to controls. ASD subjects produced highest OXT levels with the TT genotype. T allele distribution was higher in ASD males. ASD males had significantly lower distribution of the CC genotype (48.89%) compared to females (80%) (Chi-square test: χ2 = 4.43, df = 1, p = 0.035). Whereas distribution of the CT genotype was significantly higher in autistic males (44.45%) compared to females (13.33%) (Chi-square test: χ2 = 4.68, df = 1, p = 0.03).
Conclusion
Peripheral OXT levels and OXTR genetic alterations are potential biomarkers of social functioning in the ASD patient setting. The stratification of patients with ASD into severity categories shows significant differences both in OXT levels and OXTR (rs2268491, C/T) genotype and allele distributions, that can be sex dependent. OXT based therapies will require personalized medicine tactics to correctly identify patients with ASD who require neuropeptide boosting in social settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zainab Al-Ali
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kerbala, Kerbala, Kerbala Governorate, Iraq
| | - Akeel Abed Yasseen
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kufa, Kufa, Iraq
| | - Arafat Al-Dujailli
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kufa, Kufa, Najaf Governorate, Iraq
| | - Ahmed Jafar Al-Karaqully
- Head of Psychiatric Department, Alhussain Teaching Hospital, Kerbala City, Kerbala Governorate, Iraq
| | | | - Alaa Salah Jumaah
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kufa, Kufa, Iraq
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13
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Ghazy AA, Soliman OA, Elbahnasi AI, Alawy AY, Mansour AM, Gowayed MA. Role of Oxytocin in Different Neuropsychiatric, Neurodegenerative, and Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Rev Physiol Biochem Pharmacol 2022; 186:95-134. [PMID: 36416982 DOI: 10.1007/112_2022_72] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Oxytocin has recently gained significant attention because of its role in the pathophysiology and management of dominant neuropsychiatric disorders. Oxytocin, a peptide hormone synthesized in the hypothalamus, is released into different brain regions, acting as a neurotransmitter. Receptors for oxytocin are present in many areas of the brain, including the hypothalamus, amygdala, and nucleus accumbens, which have been involved in the pathophysiology of depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, autism, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Animal studies have spotlighted the role of oxytocin in social, behavioral, pair bonding, and mother-infant bonding. Furthermore, oxytocin protects fetal neurons against injury during childbirth and affects various behaviors, assuming its possible neuroprotective characteristics. In this review, we discuss some of the concepts and mechanisms related to the role of oxytocin in the pathophysiology and management of some neuropsychiatric, neurodegenerative, and neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aya A Ghazy
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt
| | - Omar A Soliman
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharos University in Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Aya I Elbahnasi
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharos University in Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Aya Y Alawy
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharos University in Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Amira Ma Mansour
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharos University in Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Mennatallah A Gowayed
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharos University in Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt.
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14
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Naderi M, Puar P, JavadiEsfahani R, Kwong RWM. Early developmental exposure to bisphenol A and bisphenol S disrupts socio-cognitive function, isotocin equilibrium, and excitation-inhibition balance in developing zebrafish. Neurotoxicology 2021; 88:144-154. [PMID: 34808222 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2021.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Dysregulation of the oxytocinergic system and excitation/inhibition (E/I) balance in synaptic transmission and neural circuits are common hallmarks of various neurodevelopmental disorders. Several experimental and epidemiological studies have shown that perinatal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol S (BPS) may contribute to a range of childhood neurodevelopmental disorders. However, the effects of BPA and BPS on social-cognitive development and the associated mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study, we explored the impacts of early developmental exposure (2hpf-5dpf) to environmentally relevant concentrations of BPA, and its analog BPS (0.001, 0.01, and 0.1 μM), on anxiety, social behaviors, and memory performance in 21 dpf zebrafish larvae. Our results revealed that early-life exposure to low concentrations of BPA and BPS elevated anxiety-like behavior, while fish exposed to higher concentrations of these chemicals displayed social deficits and impaired object recognition memory. Additionally, we found that co-exposure with an aromatase inhibitor antagonized BPA- and BPS-induced effects on anxiety levels and social behaviors, while the co-exposure to an estrogen receptor antagonist restored recognition memory in zebrafish larvae. These results indicate that BPA and BPS may affect social-cognitive function through distinct mechanisms. On the other hand, exposure to low BPA/BPS concentrations increased both the mRNA and protein levels of isotocin (zebrafish oxytocin) in the zebrafish brain, whereas a reduction in its mRNA level was observed at higher concentrations. Further, alterations in the transcript abundance of chloride transporters, and molecular markers of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamatergic systems, were observed in the zebrafish brain, suggesting possible E/I imbalance following BPA or BPS exposure. Collectively, the results of this study demonstrate that early-life exposure to low concentrations of the environmental contaminants BPA and BPS can interfere with the isotocinergic signaling pathway and disrupts the establishment of E/I balance in the developing brain, subsequently leading to the onset of a suite of behavioral deficits and neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Naderi
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada.
| | - Pankaj Puar
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada
| | | | - Raymond W M Kwong
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada
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15
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The effects of Animal Assisted Therapy on autonomic and endocrine activity in adults with autism spectrum disorder: A randomized controlled trial. Gen Hosp Psychiatry 2021; 72:36-44. [PMID: 34237553 DOI: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2021.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Stress and its sequelae are very common in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) without an intellectual disability (ID). Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has shown physiological stress-reductive effects in children with ASD. The aim of the current study was to examine the acute psychophysiological response to an AAT session, and to examine the longer-term stress-physiological effects of the intervention, up until 10 weeks post-treatment, in comparison to waiting-list controls. METHOD A randomized controlled trial with pre-intervention (T0), post-intervention (T1: 10 weeks) and follow-up (T2: 20 weeks) measurements of neuroendocrine and cardiovascular measures, was conducted in 53 adults with ASD (N = 27 in intervention arm; N = 26 in control arm). Within the intervention group, stress-physiological data were collected during the 5th therapy session (acute effects). Data were analyzed with mixed models for outcome measures cortisol, alpha-amylase, heart rate variability and sympathetic activity. RESULTS The AAT interventional session was significantly associated with reduced cortisol levels (β = -0.41, p = .010), while parasympathetic and sympathetic cardiovascular activity remained unaltered. No significant changes were found for stress-physiological measures at post-treatment time points. CONCLUSIONS Acute stress reduction, reflected in significant reduction in cortisol levels, was found during an AAT session in adults with ASD, without ID. More research is needed to explore to what extent the specific factors of AAT have contributed to the decrease in cortisol and whether stress reduction is possible for the longer-term.
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16
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John S, Jaeggi AV. Oxytocin levels tend to be lower in autistic children: A meta-analysis of 31 studies. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2021; 25:2152-2161. [PMID: 34308675 DOI: 10.1177/13623613211034375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Oxytocin is a hormone that mediates interpersonal relationships through enhancing social recognition, social memory, and reducing stress. It is released centrally into the cerebrospinal fluid, as well as peripherally into the blood, where it can easily be measured. Some studies indicate that the oxytocin system with its social implications might be different in people with autism spectrum disorder. With summarizing evidence of 31 studies, this meta-analysis suggests that children with autism spectrum disorder have lower blood oxytocin levels compared to neurotypical individuals. This might not be the case for adults with autism spectrum disorder, where we could not find a difference. Our findings motivate further exploration of the oxytocin system in children with autism spectrum disorder. This could lead to therapeutic options in treating autism spectrum disorder in childhood.
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17
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Kong XJ, Liu J, Liu K, Koh M, Sherman H, Liu S, Tian R, Sukijthamapan P, Wang J, Fong M, Xu L, Clairmont C, Jeong MS, Li A, Lopes M, Hagan V, Dutton T, Chan ST(P, Lee H, Kendall A, Kwong K, Song Y. Probiotic and Oxytocin Combination Therapy in Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Trial. Nutrients 2021; 13:1552. [PMID: 34062986 PMCID: PMC8147925 DOI: 10.3390/nu13051552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a rapidly growing neurodevelopmental disorder. Both probiotics and oxytocin were reported to have therapeutic potential; however, the combination therapy has not yet been studied. We conducted a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, 2-stage pilot trial in 35 individuals with ASD aged 3-20 years (median = 10.30 years). Subjects were randomly assigned to receive daily Lactobacillus plantarum PS128 probiotic (6 × 1010 CFUs) or a placebo for 28 weeks; starting on week 16, both groups received oxytocin. The primary outcomes measure socio-behavioral severity using the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) and Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC). The secondary outcomes include measures of the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale, fecal microbiome, blood serum inflammatory markers, and oxytocin. All outcomes were compared between the two groups at baseline, 16 weeks, and 28 weeks into treatment. We observed improvements in ABC and SRS scores and significant improvements in CGI-improvement between those receiving probiotics and oxytocin combination therapy compared to those receiving placebo (p < 0.05). A significant number of favorable gut microbiome network hubs were also identified after combination therapy (p < 0.05). The favorable social cognition response of the combination regimen is highly correlated with the abundance of the Eubacterium hallii group. Our findings suggest synergic effects between probiotics PS128 and oxytocin in ASD patients, although further investigation is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Jun Kong
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; (J.L.); (K.L.); (M.K.); (H.S.); (S.L.); (R.T.); (J.W.); (M.F.); (C.C.); (M.-S.J.); (A.L.); (M.L.); (V.H.); (T.D.); (S.-T.C.); (A.K.); (K.K.)
- Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Jun Liu
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; (J.L.); (K.L.); (M.K.); (H.S.); (S.L.); (R.T.); (J.W.); (M.F.); (C.C.); (M.-S.J.); (A.L.); (M.L.); (V.H.); (T.D.); (S.-T.C.); (A.K.); (K.K.)
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (P.S.); (L.X.); (H.L.)
| | - Kevin Liu
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; (J.L.); (K.L.); (M.K.); (H.S.); (S.L.); (R.T.); (J.W.); (M.F.); (C.C.); (M.-S.J.); (A.L.); (M.L.); (V.H.); (T.D.); (S.-T.C.); (A.K.); (K.K.)
| | - Madelyn Koh
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; (J.L.); (K.L.); (M.K.); (H.S.); (S.L.); (R.T.); (J.W.); (M.F.); (C.C.); (M.-S.J.); (A.L.); (M.L.); (V.H.); (T.D.); (S.-T.C.); (A.K.); (K.K.)
| | - Hannah Sherman
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; (J.L.); (K.L.); (M.K.); (H.S.); (S.L.); (R.T.); (J.W.); (M.F.); (C.C.); (M.-S.J.); (A.L.); (M.L.); (V.H.); (T.D.); (S.-T.C.); (A.K.); (K.K.)
| | - Siyu Liu
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; (J.L.); (K.L.); (M.K.); (H.S.); (S.L.); (R.T.); (J.W.); (M.F.); (C.C.); (M.-S.J.); (A.L.); (M.L.); (V.H.); (T.D.); (S.-T.C.); (A.K.); (K.K.)
| | - Ruiyi Tian
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; (J.L.); (K.L.); (M.K.); (H.S.); (S.L.); (R.T.); (J.W.); (M.F.); (C.C.); (M.-S.J.); (A.L.); (M.L.); (V.H.); (T.D.); (S.-T.C.); (A.K.); (K.K.)
| | | | - Jiuju Wang
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; (J.L.); (K.L.); (M.K.); (H.S.); (S.L.); (R.T.); (J.W.); (M.F.); (C.C.); (M.-S.J.); (A.L.); (M.L.); (V.H.); (T.D.); (S.-T.C.); (A.K.); (K.K.)
| | - Michelle Fong
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; (J.L.); (K.L.); (M.K.); (H.S.); (S.L.); (R.T.); (J.W.); (M.F.); (C.C.); (M.-S.J.); (A.L.); (M.L.); (V.H.); (T.D.); (S.-T.C.); (A.K.); (K.K.)
| | - Lei Xu
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (P.S.); (L.X.); (H.L.)
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Cullen Clairmont
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; (J.L.); (K.L.); (M.K.); (H.S.); (S.L.); (R.T.); (J.W.); (M.F.); (C.C.); (M.-S.J.); (A.L.); (M.L.); (V.H.); (T.D.); (S.-T.C.); (A.K.); (K.K.)
| | - Min-Seo Jeong
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; (J.L.); (K.L.); (M.K.); (H.S.); (S.L.); (R.T.); (J.W.); (M.F.); (C.C.); (M.-S.J.); (A.L.); (M.L.); (V.H.); (T.D.); (S.-T.C.); (A.K.); (K.K.)
| | - Alice Li
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; (J.L.); (K.L.); (M.K.); (H.S.); (S.L.); (R.T.); (J.W.); (M.F.); (C.C.); (M.-S.J.); (A.L.); (M.L.); (V.H.); (T.D.); (S.-T.C.); (A.K.); (K.K.)
| | - Maria Lopes
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; (J.L.); (K.L.); (M.K.); (H.S.); (S.L.); (R.T.); (J.W.); (M.F.); (C.C.); (M.-S.J.); (A.L.); (M.L.); (V.H.); (T.D.); (S.-T.C.); (A.K.); (K.K.)
| | - Veronica Hagan
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; (J.L.); (K.L.); (M.K.); (H.S.); (S.L.); (R.T.); (J.W.); (M.F.); (C.C.); (M.-S.J.); (A.L.); (M.L.); (V.H.); (T.D.); (S.-T.C.); (A.K.); (K.K.)
| | - Tess Dutton
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; (J.L.); (K.L.); (M.K.); (H.S.); (S.L.); (R.T.); (J.W.); (M.F.); (C.C.); (M.-S.J.); (A.L.); (M.L.); (V.H.); (T.D.); (S.-T.C.); (A.K.); (K.K.)
| | - Suk-Tak (Phoebe) Chan
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; (J.L.); (K.L.); (M.K.); (H.S.); (S.L.); (R.T.); (J.W.); (M.F.); (C.C.); (M.-S.J.); (A.L.); (M.L.); (V.H.); (T.D.); (S.-T.C.); (A.K.); (K.K.)
| | - Hang Lee
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (P.S.); (L.X.); (H.L.)
- MGH Biostatistics Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Amy Kendall
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; (J.L.); (K.L.); (M.K.); (H.S.); (S.L.); (R.T.); (J.W.); (M.F.); (C.C.); (M.-S.J.); (A.L.); (M.L.); (V.H.); (T.D.); (S.-T.C.); (A.K.); (K.K.)
| | - Kenneth Kwong
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; (J.L.); (K.L.); (M.K.); (H.S.); (S.L.); (R.T.); (J.W.); (M.F.); (C.C.); (M.-S.J.); (A.L.); (M.L.); (V.H.); (T.D.); (S.-T.C.); (A.K.); (K.K.)
| | - Yiqing Song
- Department of Epidemiology, Indiana University, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA;
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18
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Alaerts K, Steyaert J, Vanaudenaerde B, Wenderoth N, Bernaerts S. Changes in endogenous oxytocin levels after intranasal oxytocin treatment in adult men with autism: An exploratory study with long-term follow-up. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2021; 43:147-152. [PMID: 33309460 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2020.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Intranasal administration of the neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) is increasingly explored as a potential treatment for targeting the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Previously, interactions of exogenously administered OT with its endogenous production have been demonstrated following single-dose administrations. However, the impact of repeated, long-term OT use on endogenous salivary OT levels is unknown. In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study with between-subject design, 34 adult men with ASD were either assigned to a four-week treatment of once-daily intranasal OT administrations (24 IU) or placebo. Salivary OT samples were obtained before and after the treatment period as well as at two follow-up sessions, four weeks and one year after cessation of the treatment. Receiving OT intranasally but not placebo reliably increased endogenous salivary levels of OT immediately post-treatment and at the follow-up session four weeks post treatment, indicating an interaction between exogenously administered OT and its endogenous production. Notably, increases in salivary OT at the four-week follow-up session were most pronounced in individuals with larger behavioral improvements in ASD social symptoms. These results suggest that OT's positive effects on social behaviors may lead to a self-perpetuating elevation of OT levels through a feed-forward triggering of its own release. Together, the current investigation provides initial evidence that repeated intranasal administration of OT can induce long-lasting changes in endogenous salivary OT levels, presumably through a positive spiral of OT release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaat Alaerts
- University of Leuven, KU Leuven, Belgium, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Group Biomedical Sciences, Neurorehabilitation Research Group, Belgium; Leuven Autism Research Consortium, KU Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Jean Steyaert
- University of Leuven, KU Leuven, Belgium, Department of Neurosciences, Group Biomedical Sciences, Psychiatry Research Group, Belgium; Leuven Autism Research Consortium, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bart Vanaudenaerde
- University of Leuven, KU Leuven, Belgium, Department of Chronic Diseases, Metabolism and Ageing, Group Biomedical Sciences, Pneumology Research Group, Belgium
| | - Nicole Wenderoth
- ETH Zurich, Switzerland, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Neural Control of Movement Lab, Switzerland
| | - Sylvie Bernaerts
- University of Leuven, KU Leuven, Belgium, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Group Biomedical Sciences, Neurorehabilitation Research Group, Belgium; Leuven Autism Research Consortium, KU Leuven, Belgium
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19
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Albantakis L, Brandi ML, Brückl T, Gebert D, Auer M, Kopczak A, Stalla G, Neumann I, Schilbach L. Oxytocin and cortisol concentrations in adults with and without autism spectrum disorder in response to physical exercise. COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY 2021; 5:100027. [PMID: 35754449 PMCID: PMC9216704 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2021.100027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder, whose core symptoms consist of deficits in social interaction and communication as well as restricted and repetitive behavior. Brain oxytocin (OXT) has been associated with various prosocial behaviors, and might, therefore, be involved in the pathogenesis of disorders associated with socio-emotional dysfunctions such as ASD. However, significant associations between central and peripheral OXT levels may only be present in response to physiological or stressful stimuli but were not shown under baseline conditions. In this study, we, therefore, investigated salivary and plasma OXT in response to physical exercise in adults with ASD (n = 33, mean age: 36.8 ± 10.7 years) without intellectual impairment (IQ > 70) and neurotypical controls (n = 31, mean age: 31.0 ± 11.7 years). To stimulate the OXT system, we used rapid cycling and measured cortisol (CORT) concentrations to monitor the physiological stress response. When controlling for age, neither salivary OXT (p = .469), plasma OXT (p = .297) nor CORT (p = .667) concentrations significantly differed between groups at baseline. In addition, neither OXT nor CORT concentrations significantly differed between groups after physical exercise. Social anxiety traits were negatively correlated with plasma, but not saliva OXT concentrations in neurotypicals at baseline, while empathetic traits were positively correlated with saliva, but not plasma concentrations in autistic patients at baseline. No significant correlations between salivary and plasma OXT concentrations were found at any time point. Future studies including adult participants should investigate the effect of age on CORT and OXT concentrations in response to stress. Basal levels of cortisol and oxytocin did not differ in adults with ASD from controls. After physical exercise plasma oxytocin increased in ASD with low cortisol-response. Cortisol and oxytocin levels post-task did not significantly differ between groups. Social phobic traits predicted lower plasma oxytocin concentrations in controls. Empathetic traits predicted higher salivary oxytocin levels in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. Albantakis
- Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry – Independent Max Planck Research Group for Social Neuroscience, Kraepelinstr. 2-10, 80804, Munich, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 2-10, 80804, Munich, Germany
- Corresponding author. Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 2-10, 80804, Munich, Germany.
| | - M.-L. Brandi
- Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry – Independent Max Planck Research Group for Social Neuroscience, Kraepelinstr. 2-10, 80804, Munich, Germany
| | - T. Brückl
- Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry – Translational Research in Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 2-10, 80804, Munich, Germany
| | - D. Gebert
- Neurological Specialty Hospital for Movement Disorders/Parkinson’s Disease, Straße Nach Fichtenwalde 16, 14547, Beelitz, Germany
| | - M.K. Auer
- Medizinische Klinik and Poliklinik IV, LMU Klinikum, Ziemssenstr. 1, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - A. Kopczak
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Feodor-Lynen-Straße 17, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - G.K. Stalla
- Medizinische Klinik and Poliklinik IV, LMU Klinikum, Ziemssenstr. 1, 80336, Munich, Germany
- Medicover Neuroendokrinologie, Orleansplatz 3, 81667, Munich, Germany
| | - I.D. Neumann
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstr. 31, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - L. Schilbach
- Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry – Independent Max Planck Research Group for Social Neuroscience, Kraepelinstr. 2-10, 80804, Munich, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 2-10, 80804, Munich, Germany
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1, 80539, Munich, Germany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, LMU Munich, Großhaderner Str. 2, 82152 Planegg, Germany
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20
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Iovino M, Messana T, Tortora A, Giusti C, Lisco G, Giagulli VA, Guastamacchia E, De Pergola G, Triggiani V. Oxytocin Signaling Pathway: From Cell Biology to Clinical Implications. Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets 2021; 21:91-110. [PMID: 32433011 DOI: 10.2174/1871530320666200520093730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In addition to the well-known role played in lactation and parturition, Oxytocin (OT) and OT receptor (OTR) are involved in many other aspects such as the control of maternal and social behavior, the regulation of the growth of the neocortex, the maintenance of blood supply to the cortex, the stimulation of limbic olfactory area to mother-infant recognition bond, and the modulation of the autonomic nervous system via the vagal pathway. Moreover, OT and OTR show antiinflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-pain, anti-diabetic, anti-dyslipidemic and anti-atherogenic effects. OBJECTIVE The aim of this narrative review is to summarize the main data coming from the literature dealing with the role of OT and OTR in physiology and pathologic conditions focusing on the most relevant aspects. METHODS Appropriate keywords and MeSH terms were identified and searched in Pubmed. Finally, references of original articles and reviews were examined. RESULTS We report the most significant and updated data on the role played by OT and OTR in physiology and different clinical contexts. CONCLUSION Emerging evidence indicates the involvement of OT system in several pathophysiological mechanisms influencing brain anatomy, cognition, language, sense of safety and trust and maternal behavior, with the possible use of exogenous administered OT in the treatment of specific neuropsychiatric conditions. Furthermore, it modulates pancreatic β-cell responsiveness and lipid metabolism leading to possible therapeutic use in diabetic and dyslipidemic patients and for limiting and even reversing atherosclerotic lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Iovino
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine-Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. University of Bari "Aldo Moro", School of Medicine, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Tullio Messana
- Infantile Neuropsychiatry, IRCCS - Institute of Neurological Sciences, Bologna, Italy
| | - Anna Tortora
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine-Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. University of Bari "Aldo Moro", School of Medicine, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Consuelo Giusti
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine-Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. University of Bari "Aldo Moro", School of Medicine, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lisco
- Hospital Unit of Endocrinology, Perrino Hospital, Brindisi, Italy
| | - Vito Angelo Giagulli
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine-Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. University of Bari "Aldo Moro", School of Medicine, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Edoardo Guastamacchia
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine-Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. University of Bari "Aldo Moro", School of Medicine, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Giovanni De Pergola
- Clinical Nutrition Unit, Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Oncology, University of Bari, School of Medicine, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Triggiani
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine-Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. University of Bari "Aldo Moro", School of Medicine, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
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21
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Doi H, Tsumura N, Kanai C, Masui K, Mitsuhashi R, Nagasawa T. Automatic Classification of Adult Males With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder by Non-contact Measurement of Autonomic Nervous System Activation. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:625978. [PMID: 34079477 PMCID: PMC8165244 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.625978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit atypicality in various domains of behavior. Previous psychophysiological studies have revealed an atypical pattern of autonomic nervous system (ANS) activation induced by psychosocial stimulation. Thus, it might be feasible to develop a novel assessment tool to evaluate the risk of ASD by measuring ANS activation in response to emotional stimulation. The present study investigated whether people with ASD could be automatically classified from neurotypical adults based solely on physiological data obtained by the recently introduced non-contact measurement of pulse wave. We video-recorded faces of adult males with and without ASD while watching emotion-inducing video clips. Features reflective of ANS activation were extracted from the temporal fluctuation of facial skin coloration and entered into a machine-learning algorithm. Though the performance was modest, the gradient boosting classifier succeeded in classifying people with and without ASD, which indicates that facial skin color fluctuation contains information useful for detecting people with ASD. Taking into consideration the fact that the current study recruited only high-functioning adults who have relatively mild symptoms and probably developed some compensatory strategies, ASD screening by non-contact measurement of pulse wave could be a promising assessment tool to evaluate ASD risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirokazu Doi
- Graduate School of Engineering, School of Science and Engineering, Kokushikan University, Setagaya, Japan.,Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | | | - Chieko Kanai
- Medical Institute of Developmental Disabilities Research, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan.,Faculty of Humanities, Wayo Women's University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kenta Masui
- Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | | | - Takumi Nagasawa
- Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
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22
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Heart rate variability in individuals with autism spectrum disorders: A meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 118:463-471. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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23
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Digital phenotyping of autism spectrum disorders based on color information: brief review and opinion. ARTIFICIAL LIFE AND ROBOTICS 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10015-020-00614-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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24
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Fujioka T, Fujisawa TX, Inohara K, Okamoto Y, Matsumura Y, Tsuchiya KJ, Katayama T, Munesue T, Tomoda A, Wada Y, Kosaka H. Attenuated relationship between salivary oxytocin levels and attention to social information in adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder: a comparative study. Ann Gen Psychiatry 2020; 19:38. [PMID: 32518579 PMCID: PMC7275403 DOI: 10.1186/s12991-020-00287-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous research studies have assessed the relationship between attention to social information and peripheral (e.g., plasma and salivary) oxytocin (OT) levels in typically developing (TD) children and children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A relationship between them was observed in TD children, but not in children with ASD. However, this relationship remains unexamined in other age groups. To clarify whether this lack of association is maintained throughout development in individuals with ASD, we aimed to assess the relationship between salivary OT levels and attention to social information in adolescents and adults with and without ASD. METHODS We recruited male adolescents and adults with ASD (n = 17) and TD participants (n = 24). Using the all-in-one eye-tracking system Gazefinder, we measured the percentage fixation time allocated to social information. We also measured the salivary OT levels and Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) of participants. Subsequently, we confirmed group differences and conducted a correlation analysis to investigate the relationships between these three measures. RESULTS Salivary OT levels did not show any significant difference between the ASD and TD groups and were negatively correlated with the AQ in the whole-group analysis, but not in within-group analysis. Individuals with ASD had significantly lower percentage fixation times than did TD individuals for eye regions in human faces with/without mouth motion, for upright biological motion, and for people regions in the people and geometry movies. The percentage of fixation for geometric shapes in the people and geometry movies was significantly higher in the ASD than in the TD group. In the TD group, salivary OT levels were positively correlated with percentage fixation times for upright biological motion and people and negatively correlated with inverted biological motion and geometry. However, no significant correlations were found in the ASD group. CONCLUSIONS Our exploratory results suggest that salivary OT levels in adolescents and adults with ASD are less indicative of attention to social stimuli than they are in TD adolescents and adults. It is suggested that their association is slightly weaker in adolescents and adults with ASD and that this attenuated relationship appears to be maintained throughout development.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Fujioka
- Faculty of Education, University of Fukui, Fukui, Fukui Japan.,Department of Child Development, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University, and University of Fukui, Suita, Osaka Japan.,Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Eiheiji, Fukui Japan
| | - T X Fujisawa
- Department of Child Development, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University, and University of Fukui, Suita, Osaka Japan.,Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Eiheiji, Fukui Japan
| | - K Inohara
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan.,Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Eiheiji, Fukui Japan
| | - Y Okamoto
- Department of Child Development, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University, and University of Fukui, Suita, Osaka Japan.,Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Eiheiji, Fukui Japan.,Waseda Institute for Advanced Study, Waseda University, Shinjuku, Tokyo Japan
| | - Y Matsumura
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Eiheiji, Fukui Japan
| | - K J Tsuchiya
- Department of Child Development, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University, and University of Fukui, Suita, Osaka Japan.,Research Center for Child Mental Development, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Japan.,Department of Psychiatry, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Japan
| | - T Katayama
- Department of Child Development, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University, and University of Fukui, Suita, Osaka Japan
| | - T Munesue
- Kaga Mental Hospital, Kaga, Ishikawa Japan
| | - A Tomoda
- Department of Child Development, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University, and University of Fukui, Suita, Osaka Japan.,Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Eiheiji, Fukui Japan
| | - Y Wada
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Eiheiji, Fukui Japan.,Kaga Mental Hospital, Kaga, Ishikawa Japan
| | - H Kosaka
- Department of Child Development, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University, and University of Fukui, Suita, Osaka Japan.,Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Eiheiji, Fukui Japan.,Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Eiheiji, Fukui Japan
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25
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Stevanovic M, Henttonen P, Koskinen E, Peräkylä A, Nieminen von-Wendt T, Sihvola E, Tani P, Ravaja N, Sams M. Physiological responses to affiliation during conversation: Comparing neurotypical males and males with Asperger syndrome. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0222084. [PMID: 31532809 PMCID: PMC6750568 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
We examined the emotional and psychophysiological underpinnings of social interaction in the context of autism spectrum disorder, more specifically, involving participants diagnosed with Asperger syndrome (AS). We recorded participants’ autonomic nervous system (ANS) activation (electrodermal activity, heart rate, and heart rate variability) and facial muscle activation during conversations in two different types of male dyads: (1) ten dyads where one participant has been diagnosed with AS (AS/NT dyads) and (2) nine dyads where both participants are neurotypical (NT/NT dyads). Afterwards, three independent raters assessed continuously each participant’s affiliative and dominant behaviors during the first and last 10 minutes of the conversations. The relationship between the assessed data and ANS responses was examined. We found that, in the NT/NT dyads, a high level of affiliation displayed by the conversational partner calms down the participant when they are actively dominating the interaction. In contrast, when the participants themselves expressed affiliation, their psychophysiological responses indicated increase in arousal, which suggests that the giving of affiliation is physiologically “hard work.” The affiliation-related ANS responses were similar in those NT participants whose conversational partner had AS, while some differences in facial muscle activation did occur in comparison to NT/NT dyads. In the AS participants, in contrast, a high level of affiliation provided by the conversational partner was associated with increase in arousal, suggesting heightened alertness and stress. As for their own affiliative behavior, the AS participants exhibited similar indicators of alertness and stress as the NT participants, but only when their own level of dominance was low. Our results increase understanding of how individuals with AS experience social interaction at the physiological level, and how this experience differs from that in NT individuals. Moreover, our results confirm and further specify our earlier results, where we proposed that affiliation involves the type of “sharing of the burden” that also reverberates in the participants’ bodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melisa Stevanovic
- Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Emmi Koskinen
- Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anssi Peräkylä
- Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | | | - Pekka Tani
- Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Niklas Ravaja
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mikko Sams
- Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Department of Computer Science, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
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26
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Dijkhuis RR, Ziermans T, van Rijn S, Staal W, Swaab H. Emotional Arousal During Social Stress in Young Adults With Autism: Insights From Heart Rate, Heart Rate Variability and Self-Report. J Autism Dev Disord 2019; 49:2524-2535. [PMID: 30945093 PMCID: PMC6546666 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-04000-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
In order to better understand which factors play a role in non-adaptive social behavior in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) we looked into physiological arousal and awareness of one’s own emotions. Heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) were measured during a public speaking task in 51 young adults with ASD and 28 typically developing (TD) controls. The results showed no significant group differences in baseline HR/HRV, HR reactivity (change from baseline to the speaking task) or self-reported emotional awareness. However, adults with ASD showed significantly lower HRV reactivity (p = .023, d = 0.6) compared to TD adults. These results suggest a mismatch between arousal regulation and emotional awareness, which may be related to problems in social adaptation in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renee R Dijkhuis
- Department of Clinical Child and Adolescent Studies, Neuropedagogics and Developmental Disorders, Leiden University, Pieter de la Court Building, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Tim Ziermans
- Department of Clinical Child and Adolescent Studies, Neuropedagogics and Developmental Disorders, Leiden University, Pieter de la Court Building, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Brain and Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sophie van Rijn
- Department of Clinical Child and Adolescent Studies, Neuropedagogics and Developmental Disorders, Leiden University, Pieter de la Court Building, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Wouter Staal
- Department of Clinical Child and Adolescent Studies, Neuropedagogics and Developmental Disorders, Leiden University, Pieter de la Court Building, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Karakter Universitair Centrum, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Radboud Universitair Medisch Centrum, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Hanna Swaab
- Department of Clinical Child and Adolescent Studies, Neuropedagogics and Developmental Disorders, Leiden University, Pieter de la Court Building, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK, Leiden, The Netherlands. .,Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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27
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Thapa R, Alvares GA, Zaidi TA, Thomas EE, Hickie IB, Park SH, Guastella AJ. Reduced heart rate variability in adults with autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res 2019; 12:922-930. [PMID: 30972967 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Revised: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
A growing body of research has suggested heart rate variability (HRV) may be reduced in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in comparison to neurotypical cohorts. While there have been several studies investigating HRV in children diagnosed with ASD, few studies have been conducted in adults. The objective of the current study was to investigate autonomic nervous system activity as assessed by HRV in adults diagnosed with ASD. We hypothesized that adults with ASD would show a reduction in HRV compared to neurotypical participants. Participants diagnosed with ASD (n = 55) were recruited from the Autism Clinic for Translational Research at the Brain and Mind Centre (University of Sydney) between 2013 and 2017. Neurotypical participants were recruited from advertisements and online media. Resting state heart rate was measured for 5 min while participants sat in an upright position. Results showed there was an overall significant difference in resting-state HRV between adults diagnosed with ASD compared to the neurotypical control group. Logarithmically transformed high frequency (HF) and root mean square of successive differences were particularly decreased in the ASD group, suggesting lower parasympathetic activity. The use of psychotropic medications and comorbidities were associated with reductions in low frequency of HRV. Our data suggest an overall dysregulation in resting autonomic activity in adults with ASD. This may represent an important physiological mechanism leading to potential cardiovascular risk in ASD, which warrants further investigation. Autism Res 2019, 12: 922-930. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: ASD is commonly associated with a range of physical and mental health comorbidities. Autonomic disruptions underlying reductions in heart rate variability (HRV) have been linked to a range of mental and physical health conditions. We assessed resting-state HRV in adults diagnosed with ASD in comparison to healthy individuals. Our results showed reduced heart rate variability in people diagnosed with ASD compared to adults without ASD. These findings implicate a role for autonomic activity as a potentially modifiable risk factor for ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rinku Thapa
- Autism Clinic for Translational Research, Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Gail A Alvares
- Autism Clinic for Translational Research, Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Tooba A Zaidi
- Autism Clinic for Translational Research, Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Emma E Thomas
- Autism Clinic for Translational Research, Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ian B Hickie
- Autism Clinic for Translational Research, Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Shin H Park
- Autism Clinic for Translational Research, Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Adam J Guastella
- Autism Clinic for Translational Research, Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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28
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Nomi JS, Molnar-Szakacs I, Uddin LQ. Insular function in autism: Update and future directions in neuroimaging and interventions. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2019; 89:412-426. [PMID: 30381235 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Revised: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The insular cortex, hidden within the lateral sulcus of the human brain, participates in a range of cognitive, affective, and sensory functions. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental condition affecting all of these functional domains, has increasingly been linked with atypical activation and connectivity of the insular cortices. Here we review the latest research linking atypical insular function to a range of behaviors characteristic of ASD, with an emphasis on neuroimaging findings in the domains of social cognition and executive function. We summarize some of the recent work linking the insula to interventions in autism, including oxytocin-based pharmacological treatments and music therapy. We suggest that future directions likely to yield significant insights into insular pathology in ASD include the analysis of the dynamics of this brain region. We also conclude that more basic research is necessary on the use of oxytocin pharmacotherapy, and larger studies addressing participant heterogeneity are needed on the use of music therapy in ASD. Long-term studies are needed to ascertain sustained effects of these interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason S Nomi
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA.
| | | | - Lucina Q Uddin
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA; Neuroscience Program, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA; Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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29
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Aita C, Mizoguchi Y, Yamamoto M, SeguchI Y, Yatsuga C, Nishimura T, Sugimoto Y, Takahashi D, Nishihara R, Ueno T, Nakayama M, Kuroki T, Nabeta H, Imamura Y, Monji A. Oxytocin levels and sex differences in autism spectrum disorder with severe intellectual disabilities. Psychiatry Res 2019; 273:67-74. [PMID: 30640053 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.12.139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Revised: 12/25/2018] [Accepted: 12/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
There were few reports of oxytocin (OXT) concentrations of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) patients with severe intellectual disabilities. We measured serum OXT concentrations in 79 hospitalized patients with severe intellectual disabilities (16-60 years old, 50 males and 29 females, 54 ASD patients) and investigated the associations between serum OXT concentration, symptom scores, sex differences, and autism spectrum disorder. There were no significant effects of diagnosis, severity of intellectual disabilities, and total score of the Japanese version of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC-J), the Childhood Autism Rating Scale-Tokyo Version (CARS-TV), and the Japanese version of the Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised (RBS-R). However, there were sex differences in the correlations between OXT concentrations and subscale scores in the ASD group. The male ASD group (n = 39) showed negative correlations between RBS-R Self-injurious and Sameness subscale scores and serum OXT concentrations. In the female ASD group(n = 15), CARS-TV Nonverbal communication subscale scores and RBS-R Compulsive subscale scores were seen to positively correlate with serum OXT concentrations. These findings suggest that OXT functions differ in males and females with severe intellectual disabilities and that OXT partly affects autism and related to some of the repetitive behaviors and nonverbal communication, in ASD patients with severe intellectual disabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chie Aita
- National Hospital Organization Hizen Psychiatric Center, 160 Mitsu Yoshinogari, Kanzaki, Saga 842-0192, Japan.
| | - Yoshito Mizoguchi
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan
| | - Miwako Yamamoto
- National Hospital Organization Hizen Psychiatric Center, 160 Mitsu Yoshinogari, Kanzaki, Saga 842-0192, Japan
| | - Yasuhisa SeguchI
- National Hospital Organization Hizen Psychiatric Center, 160 Mitsu Yoshinogari, Kanzaki, Saga 842-0192, Japan
| | - Chiho Yatsuga
- National Hospital Organization Hizen Psychiatric Center, 160 Mitsu Yoshinogari, Kanzaki, Saga 842-0192, Japan
| | - Taisuke Nishimura
- National Hospital Organization Hizen Psychiatric Center, 160 Mitsu Yoshinogari, Kanzaki, Saga 842-0192, Japan
| | - Yoshiki Sugimoto
- National Hospital Organization Hizen Psychiatric Center, 160 Mitsu Yoshinogari, Kanzaki, Saga 842-0192, Japan
| | - Daiki Takahashi
- National Hospital Organization Hizen Psychiatric Center, 160 Mitsu Yoshinogari, Kanzaki, Saga 842-0192, Japan
| | - Reiko Nishihara
- National Hospital Organization Hizen Psychiatric Center, 160 Mitsu Yoshinogari, Kanzaki, Saga 842-0192, Japan
| | - Takefumi Ueno
- National Hospital Organization Hizen Psychiatric Center, 160 Mitsu Yoshinogari, Kanzaki, Saga 842-0192, Japan
| | | | - Toshihide Kuroki
- Department of Human Sciences, Faculty of Human-Environment Studies, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | | | - Yoshiomi Imamura
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan
| | - Akira Monji
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan
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30
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Endothelin neurotransmitter signalling controls zebrafish social behaviour. Sci Rep 2019; 9:3040. [PMID: 30816294 PMCID: PMC6395658 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-39907-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The formation of social groups is an adaptive behaviour that can provide protection from predators, improve foraging and facilitate social learning. However, the costs of proximity can include competition for resources, aggression and kleptoparasitism meaning that the decision whether to interact represents a trade-off. Here we show that zebrafish harbouring a mutation in endothelin receptor aa (ednraa) form less cohesive shoals than wild-types. ednraa−/− mutants exhibit heightened aggression and decreased whole-body cortisol levels suggesting that they are dominant. These behavioural changes correlate with a reduction of parvocellular arginine vasopressin (AVP)-positive neurons in the preoptic area, an increase in the size of magnocellular AVP neurons and a higher concentration of 5-HT and dopamine in the brain. Manipulation of AVP or 5-HT signalling can rescue the shoaling phenotype of ednraa−/− providing an insight into how the brain controls social interactions.
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31
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Alaerts K, Bernaerts S, Vanaudenaerde B, Daniels N, Wenderoth N. Amygdala-Hippocampal Connectivity Is Associated With Endogenous Levels of Oxytocin and Can Be Altered by Exogenously Administered Oxytocin in Adults With Autism. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY: COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2019; 4:655-663. [PMID: 30846366 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2019.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Revised: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oxytocin (OT) plays a pivotal role in interpersonal bonding, affiliation, and trust, and its intranasal administration is increasingly considered as a potential treatment for autism spectrum disorder. METHODS We explored whether variations in endogenous salivary OT concentration are related to interindividual differences in core autism symptoms and expressions of attachment in 38 male adults with autism spectrum disorder. Further, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was adopted to specifically explore whether interindividual differences are reflected in the intrinsic network organization of key regions of the central oxytocinergic system. RESULTS Positive correlations were identified between peripheral OT and expressions of secure attachment (the State Adult Attachment Measure and the Inventory of Peer Attachment), but no significant relationships were identified with scales assessing core autism symptom domains (the Social Responsiveness Scale and the Repetitive Behavior Scale). At the neural level, higher levels of endogenous OT were associated with lower degrees of interregional functional coupling between the amygdala and hippocampal regions. Interestingly, a single dose of exogenously administered OT induced a further reduction in amygdala-hippocampal connectivity, indicating that a higher availability of OT can alter the degree of amygdala-hippocampal connectivity. CONCLUSIONS The identified associations between the oxytocinergic system, expressions of secure attachment, and amygdala-hippocampal pathways are anticipated to be of relevance for understanding the role of OT in modulating appropriate neural and physiological responses to stress and restoring homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaat Alaerts
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Group Biomedical Sciences, Neuromotor Rehabilitation Research Group, University of Leuven, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Sylvie Bernaerts
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Group Biomedical Sciences, Neuromotor Rehabilitation Research Group, University of Leuven, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bart Vanaudenaerde
- Department of Chronic Diseases, Metabolism and Ageing, Group Biomedical Sciences, Pneumology Research Group, University of Leuven, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nicky Daniels
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Group Biomedical Sciences, Neuromotor Rehabilitation Research Group, University of Leuven, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nicole Wenderoth
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Neural Control of Movement Lab, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule, Zurich, Switzerland
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32
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Erdozain AM, Peñagarikano O. Oxytocin as Treatment for Social Cognition, Not There Yet. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:930. [PMID: 31998152 PMCID: PMC6962227 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In a short time, oxytocin has progressed from being a regular hormone involved in parturition and breastfeeding to be possibly the neuromodulator that has gathered the most attention. Attributed many positive roles in the modulation of different aspects of social behavior, such as bonding, empathy, cooperation, trust, and generosity, as well as roles as a natural anxiolytic and antidepressant, the expectations on oxytocin becoming a treatment for a number of disorders with associated social deficits have dramatically raised over the last years. However, despite the field has been investigating oxytocin's role in social behavior for over twenty years, there are still many unknowns on oxytocin's mechanisms of action and efficiency and the increasing number of clinical trials administering oxytocin to different clinical groups seem to disagree in its properties and report in most cases conflicting results. This has led to some disappointment among researchers and clinicians as oxytocin might not be the miraculous molecule that works in a "one size fits all" fashion initially considered. Conversely, this down-side of oxytocin might merely reflect the complexity of its neurotransmission system. The current reality is that, although oxytocin seems to have potential therapeutic value, there are key questions that remain unanswered as to decide the optimal target groups and treatment course. Here, we present an overview on critical points regarding the oxytocin system in health and disease that need to be better understood to establish its therapeutic properties and to decide who could benefit the most from its treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaia M Erdozain
- Department of Pharmacology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Leioa, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Salud Mental CIBERSAM, Leioa, Spain
| | - Olga Peñagarikano
- Department of Pharmacology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Leioa, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Salud Mental CIBERSAM, Leioa, Spain
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33
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Taj-Eldin M, Ryan C, O'Flynn B, Galvin P. A Review of Wearable Solutions for Physiological and Emotional Monitoring for Use by People with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Caregivers. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2018; 18:E4271. [PMID: 30518133 PMCID: PMC6308558 DOI: 10.3390/s18124271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 12/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The goal of real-time feedback on physiological changes, stress monitoring and even emotion detection is becoming a technological reality. People in their daily life experience varying emotional states, some of which are negative and which can lead to decreased attention, decreased productivity and ultimately, reduced quality of life. Therefore, having a solution that continuously monitors the physiological signals of the person and assesses his or her emotional well-being could be a very valuable tool. This paper aims to review existing physiological and motional monitoring devices, highlight their features and compare their sensing capabilities. Such technology would be particularly useful for certain populations who experience rapidly changing emotional states such as people with autism spectrum disorder and people with intellectual disabilities. Wearable sensing devices present a potential solution that can support and complement existing behavioral interventions. This paper presents a review of existing and emerging products in the market. It reviews the literature on state-of-the-art prototypes and analyzes their usefulness, clinical validity, and discusses clinical perspectives. A small number of products offer reliable physiological internal state monitoring and may be suitable for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It is likely that more promising solutions will be available in the near future. Therefore, caregivers should be careful in their selection of devices that meet the care-receiver's personal needs and have strong research support for reliability and validity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Taj-Eldin
- Tyndall National Institute, University College Cork, T12 R5CP Cork, Ireland.
| | - Christian Ryan
- School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork, T12 R5CP Cork, Ireland.
| | - Brendan O'Flynn
- Tyndall National Institute, University College Cork, T12 R5CP Cork, Ireland.
| | - Paul Galvin
- Tyndall National Institute, University College Cork, T12 R5CP Cork, Ireland.
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Abstract
In this chapter, we introduce a new area of social pharmacology that encompasses the study of the role of neuromodulators in modulating a wide range of social behaviors and brain function, with the interplay of genetic and epigenetic factors. There are increasing evidences for the role of the neuropeptide oxytocin in modulating a wide range of social behaviors, in reducing anxiety, and in impacting the social brain network. Oxytocin also promotes social functions in patients with neuropsychiatric disorders, such as autism and reduces anxiety and fear in anxiety disorders. In this chapter, we will emphasize the importance of integrating basic research and clinical human research in determining optimal strategies for drug discoveries for social dysfunctions and anxiety disorders. We will highlight the significance of adopting a precision medicine approach to optimize targeted treatments with oxytocin in neuropsychiatry. Oxytocin effects on social behavior and brain function can vary from one individual to another based on external factors, such as heterogeneity in autism phenotype, childhood experiences, personality, attachment style, and oxytocin receptor polymorphisms. Hence, targeted therapies for subgroups of patients can help alleviating some of the core symptoms and lead to a better future for these patients and their families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elissar Andari
- Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Rene Hurlemann
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical Psychology Division, NEMO (Neuromodulation of Emotion) Research Group, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Larry J Young
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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35
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Baracz SJ, Everett NA, Cornish JL. The impact of early life stress on the central oxytocin system and susceptibility for drug addiction: Applicability of oxytocin as a pharmacotherapy. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 110:114-132. [PMID: 30172802 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2018] [Revised: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Early life trauma is strongly associated with an increased vulnerability to abuse illicit drugs and the impairment of neural development. This includes alterations to the development of the oxytocin system, which plays a pivotal role in the regulation of social behaviours and emotion. Dysregulation of this important system also contributes to increased susceptibility to develop drug addiction. In this review, we provide an overview of the animal models of early life stress that are widely used, and discuss the impact that early life stress has on drug-taking behaviour in adolescence and adulthood in both sexes. We link this to the changes that early life stress has on the endogenous oxytocin system, and how exogenously administered oxytocin may help to re-establish functioning of the system, and in turn, reduce drug-taking behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Baracz
- Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia.
| | - Nicholas A Everett
- Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Jennifer L Cornish
- Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
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36
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Taylor JL, Muscatello RA, Corbett BA. Differences in anticipatory versus reactive stress to social evaluative threat in adults versus adolescents with autism. Autism Res 2018; 11:1276-1285. [PMID: 30145834 DOI: 10.1002/aur.1998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2018] [Revised: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Social evaluative threat is a potent activator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis in typically developing (TD) populations. Studies have shown that children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show a blunted cortisol response to this type of stressor; yet, a previous study in adults with ASD reported a more prototypical stress response. The current study compared 24 adolescents and 17 adults with ASD to investigate a possible developmental lag in autism resulting in a more adaptive stress response to social evaluation with development. Participants were exposed to the trier social stress test (TSST), and salivary cortisol was collected before and after stress induction. Multilevel modeling revealed that relative to adolescents, young adults with ASD evidenced a significant increase in cortisol in response to anticipatory stress, and 23.5% were classified as anticipatory responders. Adolescents, however, had a significant change in slope in response to the TSST, with 37.5% classified as reactive responders. In both groups, the majority of participants did not have a robust stress response to the TSST as would be expected in TD participants. Findings suggest significant differences in the cortisol trajectory; adults with ASD were more likely to show an anticipatory response to being socially evaluated, which was maintained throughout the stressor, whereas the adolescents had a more reactive response pattern with no anticipatory response. Further research is needed to determine if such patterns are adaptive or deleterious, and to determine underlying factors that may contribute to distinct stress profiles and to the overall diminished stress responses. Autism Res 2018, 11: 1276-1285. © 2018 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: Many individuals have increased stress when being socially evaluated. The current study shows that adults with ASD have increased stress in anticipation of a task in which individuals are required to give a speech to unfamiliar raters, while adolescents with ASD tend to show a stress response only during the task itself. Further research is necessary to understand whether developmental influences on stress response in ASD have significant impacts on other areas of functioning often affected by stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Lounds Taylor
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | | | - Blythe A Corbett
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
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Preckel K, Kanske P. Amygdala and oxytocin functioning as keys to understanding and treating autism: Commentary on an RDoC based approach. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 94:45-48. [PMID: 30149031 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Revised: 08/21/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The recent review by Hennessey, Andari and Rainnie (2018) utilizes the proposed Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) to classify amygdala functions and relate them to autism symptomatology. This approach has the potential to challenge the overarching autism diagnosis by furthering our knowledge of the mechanisms giving rise to autism psychopathology and generate novel treatment options. The purpose of this commentary is to provide additional information on a number of points raised in the review. Thus, (1) we discuss the issue of amygdala and brain overgrowth in children with autism and relate it to developmental oxytocin changes, (2) examine potential mechanisms that underlie amygdala overgrowth and dysfunction of the oxytocin system, (3) zoom in on the sexually dimorphic characteristics of the amygdala and potential parallels with the oxytocin system and (4) discuss how the interplay of oxytocin and vasopressin may explain the partially inconsistent findings of their effects on amygdala functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Preckel
- Department of Social Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstraße 1A, 04107 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Philipp Kanske
- Department of Social Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstraße 1A, 04107 Leipzig, Germany; Chair of Clinical Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Chemnitzer Str. 46, 01187 Dresden, Germany
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38
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Kuiper MWM, Verhoeven EWM, Geurts HM. The Dutch Glasgow Sensory Questionnaire: Psychometric properties of an autism-specific sensory sensitivity measure. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2018; 23:922-932. [DOI: 10.1177/1362361318788065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Sensory sensitivity is common in autistic people and since the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.), hypo- and hyper-responsiveness to sensory stimuli are part of one of the criteria domains for an autism spectrum disorder classification. For scientific research and the clinical practice, one needs reliable and valid questionnaires that measure sensory sensitivity and can distinguish between hypo- and hyper-responsiveness. We translated the Glasgow Sensory Questionnaire into Dutch. The aim was to examine the psychometric properties and the clinical use of the Dutch Glasgow Sensory Questionnaire in 78 autistic and 68 typically developing adults (18–45 years; IQ > 70). Just like the original Glasgow Sensory Questionnaire, the Dutch Glasgow Sensory Questionnaire is a reliable and valid questionnaire. The Dutch Glasgow Sensory Questionnaire had reliable hypo- and hyper-responsiveness subscales, reasonable to good modality subscales and was stable over time. Moreover, using the 95th percentile of the typically developing group as cut-off, we showed that two thirds of the autistic adults had heightened sensory sensitivity. We also showed that hypo- and hyper-responsiveness do co-exist in both autistic and typically developing adults. In sum, we conclude that the Dutch Glasgow Sensory Questionnaire is suitable to be used in scientific research as well as in the clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marieke WM Kuiper
- Dr. Leo Kannerhuis, The Netherlands
- University van Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Hilde M Geurts
- Dr. Leo Kannerhuis, The Netherlands
- University van Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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39
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Miwa Y, Furuya H, Yanai R, Kasama T, Sanada K. Is the serum oxytocin level altered by treatment in rheumatoid arthritis patients complicated with depression? Eur J Rheumatol 2018; 5:22-26. [PMID: 29657870 DOI: 10.5152/eurjrheum.2018.17021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the factors associated with depression, including serum oxytocin (OXT) levels, disease activity, activities of daily living (ADL), and quality of life (QOL), and their effects on rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods This study included 42 RA patients who received treatment with a biological agent. We measured the following variables before and after 6 months of treatment: baseline characteristics, including age, sex, disease duration, smoking, and body mass index (BMI); prednisolone and methotrexate dose; serum level of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3); erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR); and C-reactive protein (CRP) level. The disease activity of RA was assessed using the Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI); depression was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D); ADL was assessed using the Health Assessment Questionnaire; and QOL was assessed using the Short Form (SF)-36. Serum OXT levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The HAM-D score significantly correlated with the SDAI, and the mental component summary (MCS) score of SF-36. However, the serum OXT levels did not correlate with the HAM-D score. Regression analysis using the HAM-D score as the objective variable identified female sex, smoking, BMI, and all the three component scores of SF-36, but not serum OXT levels, as significant factors. Comparisons between before and after treatment showed that the HAM-D score improved from 5 to 1.5; however, the serum OXT levels did not change. Conclusion The variables of female sex, smoking, BMI, and QOL correlated with depression complicated with RA. However, serum OXT levels did not correlate directly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Miwa
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hidekazu Furuya
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryo Yanai
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Kasama
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenji Sanada
- Department of Psychiatry, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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40
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Boero G, Pisu MG, Biggio F, Muredda L, Carta G, Banni S, Paci E, Follesa P, Concas A, Porcu P, Serra M. Impaired glucocorticoid-mediated HPA axis negative feedback induced by juvenile social isolation in male rats. Neuropharmacology 2018; 133:242-253. [PMID: 29407214 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.01.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2017] [Revised: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
We previously demonstrated that socially isolated rats at weaning showed a significant decrease in corticosterone and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels, associated with an enhanced response to acute stressful stimuli. Here we shown that social isolation decreased levels of total corticosterone and of its carrier corticosteroid-binding globulin, but did not influence the availability of the free active fraction of corticosterone, both under basal conditions and after acute stress exposure. Under basal conditions, social isolation increased the abundance of glucocorticoid receptors, while it decreased that of mineralocorticoid receptors. After acute stress exposure, socially isolated rats showed long-lasting corticosterone, ACTH and corticotrophin releasing hormone responses. Moreover, while in the hippocampus and hypothalamus of group-housed rats glucocorticoid receptors expression increased with time and reached a peak when corticosterone levels returned to basal values, in socially isolated rats expression of glucocorticoid receptors did not change. Finally, social isolation also affected the hypothalamic endocannabinoid system: compared to group-housed rats, basal levels of anandamide and cannabinoid receptor type 1 were increased, while basal levels of 2-arachidonoylglycerol were decreased in socially isolated rats and did not change after acute stress exposure. The present results show that social isolation in male rats alters basal HPA axis activity and impairs glucocorticoid-mediated negative feedback after acute stress. Given that social isolation is considered an animal model of several neuropsychiatric disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and schizophrenia, these data could contribute to better understand the alterations in HPA axis activity observed in these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Boero
- Department of Life and Environment Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Anthropology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
| | | | - Francesca Biggio
- Department of Life and Environment Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Anthropology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Laura Muredda
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Gianfranca Carta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Banni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Elena Paci
- Department of Life and Environment Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Anthropology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Paolo Follesa
- Department of Life and Environment Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Anthropology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; Center of Excellence for Neurobiology of Dependence, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Alessandra Concas
- Department of Life and Environment Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Anthropology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; Center of Excellence for Neurobiology of Dependence, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Patrizia Porcu
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Cagliari, Italy
| | - Mariangela Serra
- Department of Life and Environment Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Anthropology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; Center of Excellence for Neurobiology of Dependence, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
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41
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Keech B, Crowe S, Hocking DR. Intranasal oxytocin, social cognition and neurodevelopmental disorders: A meta-analysis. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018; 87:9-19. [PMID: 29032324 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Revised: 09/25/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Deficits in social cognition are pervasive and characteristic of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Clinical trials of intranasal oxytocin (IN-OT) to improve social cognition have yielded inconclusive results. The current study is a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) considering the effect of IN-OT on social cognitive domains across a range of NDDs. Medline, PsychINFO and Scopus were searched for RCTs published through to July 25, 2017. Seventeen studies met inclusion criteria, comprising 466 participants with a NDD. Meta-analysis using a random-effects model, revealed that IN-OT had no significant effect on emotion recognition (Hedges' g=0.08), a moderate but non-significant effect on empathy (Hedges' g=0.49), and a small, significant effect on theory of mind (ToM) (Hedges' g=0.21). Meta-regression indicated that the effect of IN-OT on social cognition was not moderated by the diagnosis or age of participants, or the dose or frequency of IN-OT administration. The results highlight a need for more well-designed RCTs, as it remains difficult to draw conclusions about the potential for IN-OT to improve social cognition in NDDs. The promise of IN-OT should be considered tentative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Britney Keech
- Developmental Neuromotor & Cognition Lab, School of Psychology & Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Simon Crowe
- Department of Psychology and Counseling, School of Psychology & Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Darren R Hocking
- Developmental Neuromotor & Cognition Lab, School of Psychology & Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3086, Australia.
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42
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Miwa Y, Furuya H, Yanai R, Kasama T, Sanada K. The Relationship between the Serum Oxytocin Levels, Disease Activity, the ADLs and the QOL in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Intern Med 2017; 56:3167-3172. [PMID: 29021442 PMCID: PMC5742387 DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.9191-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To investigate the factors associated with depression, including the serum oxytocin (OXT) levels, disease activity, activities of daily living (ADLs) and quality of life (QOL), and their effects on rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods This study included 42-RA-patients. We measured the following variables before and after 6 months of treatment with biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs): the baseline characteristics (including age, sex, disease duration, smoking, and body mass index), the doses of prednisolone and methotrexate, the serum level of matrix metalloprotease-3, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and the C-reactive protein level. The disease activity of RA was assessed using the Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI), depression was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), the ADLs were assessed using the Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index and the QOL was assessed using the Short Form (SF)-36. The serum OXT levels were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The HAM-D score was significantly correlated with the SDAI, and the mental component summary score of the SF-36. However, the serum OXT levels were not correlated with the HAM-D score. The serum OXT levels before and after bDMARDs treatment did not differ to a statistically significant extent, regardless of the presence of depression. Although the differences in the serum levels of OXT were observed prior to the initiation of treatment, there was no gender difference after treatment. Conclusion Although RA complicated by depression may be related to the following high disease activity, a poor QOL and poor ADLs, the serum OXT levels were not directly correlated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Miwa
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Hidekazu Furuya
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Ryo Yanai
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Showa University Koto-Toyosu Hospital, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Kasama
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Showa University Koto-Toyosu Hospital, Japan
| | - Kenji Sanada
- Department of Psychiatry, Showa University School of Medicine, Japan
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43
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Hollocks MJ, Pickles A, Howlin P, Simonoff E. Dual Cognitive and Biological Correlates of Anxiety in Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 2017; 46:3295-307. [PMID: 27465243 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-016-2878-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Young people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a high prevalence (~40 %) of anxiety disorders compared to their non-ASD peers. It is unclear whether cognitive and biological processes associated with anxiety in ASD are analogous to anxiety in typically developing (TD) populations. In this study 55 boys with ASD (34 with a co-occurring anxiety disorder, 21 without) and 28 male controls, aged 10-16 years and with a full-scale IQ ≥ 70, completed a series of clinical, cognitive (attention bias/interpretation bias) and biological measures (salivary cortisol/HR response to social stress) associated with anxiety in TD populations. Structural equation modelling was used to reveal that that both attentional biases and physiological responsiveness were significant, but unrelated, predictors of anxiety in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Hollocks
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK. .,Neurology Unit, R3, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Box 83, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK. .,Department of Clinical Psychology, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK.
| | - Andrew Pickles
- Department of Biostatistics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Patricia Howlin
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Emily Simonoff
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
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44
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Ting V, Weiss JA. Emotion Regulation and Parent Co-Regulation in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2017; 47:680-689. [PMID: 28070784 PMCID: PMC5352765 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-016-3009-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often exhibit emotional problems, which can be associated with emotion regulation (ER) difficulties. Parent co-regulation is often associated with child ER and emotional problems, though little work has been done with reference to youth with ASD. This study investigated the association among parent co-regulation, child ER, and internalizing and externalizing problems in 51 parents and school-aged children with ASD. Parent co-regulation strategies and scaffolding were not associated with parent-reported levels of child internalizing problems. Parent scaffolding and child ER predicted externalizing problems, after controlling for child age and IQ. Suggestions for future research on parent involvement in the emotional development of children with ASD are discussed, as well as implications for ER-focused interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Ting
- Department of Psychology, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - Jonathan A Weiss
- Department of Psychology, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada.
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45
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Intranasal oxytocin treatment for social deficits and biomarkers of response in children with autism. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:8119-8124. [PMID: 28696286 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1705521114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 211] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by core social deficits. Prognosis is poor, in part, because existing medications target only associated ASD features. Emerging evidence suggests that the neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) may be a blood-based biomarker of social functioning and a possible treatment for ASD. However, prior OXT treatment trials have produced equivocal results, perhaps because of variability in patients' underlying neuropeptide biology, but this hypothesis has not been tested. Using a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel design, we tested the efficacy and tolerability of 4-wk intranasal OXT treatment (24 International Units, twice daily) in 32 children with ASD, aged 6-12 y. When pretreatment neuropeptide measures were included in the statistical model, OXT compared with placebo treatment significantly enhanced social abilities in children with ASD [as measured by the trial's primary outcome measure, the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS)]. Importantly, pretreatment blood OXT concentrations also predicted treatment response, such that individuals with the lowest pretreatment OXT concentrations showed the greatest social improvement. OXT was well tolerated, and its effects were specific to social functioning, with no observed decrease in repetitive behaviors or anxiety. Finally, as with many trials, some placebo-treated participants showed improvement on the SRS. This enhanced social functioning was mirrored by a posttreatment increase in their blood OXT concentrations, suggesting that increased endogenous OXT secretion may underlie this improvement. These findings indicate that OXT treatment enhances social abilities in children with ASD and that individuals with pretreatment OXT signaling deficits may stand to benefit the most from OXT treatment.
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46
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Corbett BA, Blain SD, Kale Edmiston E. The Role of Context in Psychosocial Stress among Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Piloting a Semi-structured, Videogame-based Paradigm. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY 2017; 43:20-28. [PMID: 31205447 PMCID: PMC6570405 DOI: 10.3109/13668250.2017.1310824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterised by altered social patterns, often associated with increased stress. While puberty is associated with increased stress, there is limited research on stress response to social interaction in adolescents with ASD. The study investigated stress response to semi-structured, videogame-based interaction in adolescents with and without ASD, and the impact of puberty. METHOD Twelve adolescents with ASD and 12 typically developing (TD) peers participated in a semi-structured, videogame-based social interaction. Stress was measured via salivary cortisol. RESULTS There were no significant between-group differences in cortisol. Pubertal development was correlated with cortisol in ASD (r = -0.901, p < 0.0001), but not TD (r = 0.022, p = 0.949). CONCLUSIONS Findings contribute to a fuller picture of the developmental trajectories of physiological stress in ASD, including the importance of context, structure, and puberty. The current investigation underscores the necessity of incorporating varied social contexts when assessing stress and social interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blythe A. Corbett
- Vanderbilt University, Department of Psychiatry
- Vanderbilt University, Department of Psychology
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute
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47
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Yang S, Dong X, Guo X, Han Y, Song H, Gao L, Dai W, Su Y, Zhang X. Serum Oxytocin Levels and an Oxytocin Receptor Gene Polymorphism (rs2254298) Indicate Social Deficits in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Front Neurosci 2017; 11:221. [PMID: 28484366 PMCID: PMC5399030 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2017.00221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2016] [Accepted: 04/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) and its receptor (OXTR) have been predicted to be involved in the regulation of social functioning in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Objective of the study was to investigate serum OT levels and the OXTR rs2254298 polymorphism in Chinese Han children and adolescents with ASD as well as to identify their social deficits relevant to the oxytocinergic system. We tested serum OT levels using ELISA in 55 ASD subjects and 110 typically developing (TD) controls as well as genotyped the OXTR rs2254298 polymorphism using PCR-RFLP in 100 ASD subjects and 232 TD controls. Autistic symptoms were assessed by the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) and the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). There were no significant associations between OXTR rs2254298 polymorphism and ASD, serum OT levels and age, as well as serum OT levels and intelligent quotient (IQ) in both ASD and TD groups. However, ASD subjects exhibited elevated serum OT levels compared to TD controls and positive correlations between serum OT levels and “adaptation to change score” in the CARS and CARS total scores. Moreover, in the ASD group, significant relationships were revealed between the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2254298 and serum OT levels, the category “stereotypes and object use” in the ABC and the category “adaptation to change” in the CARS. These findings indicated that individuals with ASD may exhibit a dysregulation in OT on the basis of changes in OXTR gene expression as well as environmentally induced alterations of the oxytocinergic system to determine their social deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuhan Yang
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjin, China
| | - Xiaopeng Dong
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjin, China
| | - Xuan Guo
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjin, China
| | - Yu Han
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjin, China
| | - Hanbing Song
- Department of Applied Science, The College of William and MaryWilliamsburg, VA, USA
| | - Lei Gao
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjin, China
| | - Wei Dai
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjin, China
| | - Yuanyuan Su
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjin, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjin, China
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48
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Edmiston EK, Muscatello RA, Corbett BA. Altered Pre-Ejection Period Response to Social Evaluative Threat in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder. RESEARCH IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS 2017; 36:57-65. [PMID: 29177005 PMCID: PMC5699479 DOI: 10.1016/j.rasd.2017.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is involved in regulating social behavior; Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by alterations in social behavior and reduced physiological response to threat. We hypothesized that adolescents with ASD would show reduced ANS response to social threat. METHODS Eighteen males with ASD and thirteen males with typical development (TD), ages 12 to 17, completed a social threat paradigm while wearing an impedance cardiography apparatus. We calculated pre-ejection period (PEP) and tested for between-group differences in PEP response to social threat. We also conducted correlation analyses between PEP change scores and clinical symptom scales. RESULTS There was an effect of diagnosis on change in PEP from baseline to the onset of social threat (F=7.60, p=0.01), with greater changes in PEP in TD compared to ASD. PEP change score and the Social Communication Questionnaire (r=0.634, p=0.005) and the ADHD Problems Subscale of the Child Behavior Checklist (r=0.568, p=0.014) were correlated. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest reduced arousal in response to social threat in ASD, with preliminary evidence that reduced sympathetic activation is associated with increased social behavior symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. Kale Edmiston
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Vanderbilt University, U-1205 Medical Research Building III, 465 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37232-2050
| | - Rachael A. Muscatello
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Vanderbilt University, U-1205 Medical Research Building III, 465 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37232-2050
| | - Blythe A. Corbett
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, PMB 40, 230 Appleton Place, Nashville, TN 37203
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49
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Peñagarikano O. Oxytocin in animal models of autism spectrum disorder. Dev Neurobiol 2017; 77:202-213. [DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2016] [Revised: 07/30/2016] [Accepted: 09/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Olga Peñagarikano
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine; University of the Basque Country; Sarriena s/n Leioa 48940 Spain
- Center for Biomedical Research Network in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), ISCIII; Spain
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50
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Vanya M, Szucs S, Vetro A, Bartfai G. The potential role of oxytocin and perinatal factors in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorders - review of the literature. Psychiatry Res 2017; 247:288-290. [PMID: 27974283 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2016] [Revised: 10/25/2016] [Accepted: 12/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are characterized by: social and communication impairments, and by restricted repetitive behaviors. The aim of the present paper is to review abnormalities of oxytocin (OXT) and related congenital malformations in ASD. A literature search was conducted in the PubMed database up to 2016 for articles related to the pathomechanism of ASD, abnormalities of OXT and the OXT polymorphism in ASD. The pathomechanism of ASD has yet to be. The development of ASD is suggested to be related to abnormalities of the oxytocin-arginin-vasopressin system. Previous results suggest that OXT and arginine vasopressin (AVP) may play a role in the etiopathogenesis of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melinda Vanya
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Clinical Centre, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary; KF TFK Health Research and Health Promotion Research Group, Kecskemet, Hungary.
| | - Szabina Szucs
- Division of Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Paediatrics, Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Clinical Centre, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Agnes Vetro
- Division of Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Paediatrics, Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Clinical Centre, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Gyorgy Bartfai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Clinical Centre, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
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