The possible link between Fetuin-A Protein and Neuro-inflammation in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Role of autoimmunity in Neuronal damage in children with Autism spectrum disorder

"Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in three core behavioral: social deficits, impaired communication, and repetitive behaviors." There is developing indication and emerging data that irregular autoimmune responses to the central nervous system may play a pathogenic role in patients with autism spectrum disorder." The aim of this review was to discuss the updated research carried out at Autism research and treatment center, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia particularly on the role of autoimmunity in Autism spectrum disorder. This review also present state of information available about the role of autoimmunity biomarkers involved in the neuronal damage of central nervous system in autistic children. The systematic literature search was carried out using Google Scholar, Science direct and PubMed databases on the role of autoimmunity in autism and reviewed all relevant articles published in peer reviewed journals by Autism research and treatment center, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia till April, 2022. We searched relevant articles using key words Autism spectrum disorder, Autoimmunity, Neuroinflamation and Central nervous system. This review revealed that plasma levels of autoimmunity related factors/ markers were altered in patients with autism. Significant change in blood markers in subjects with ASD may resulted in several years of decreased neutrotrophic support along with increasing impairment in relationship with down-regulated inflammation that may play a role in the ASD. Overall, the role of autoimmunity in ASD subjects with excess of anti-brain antibodies suggest that in some patients, autoantibodies that target the CNS may be pathological factor in neuronal growth in autistic children. Large cohort studies with well-defined and specially pheno typed autistic groups and matched healthy controls are required to examine the role of autoantibodies in the pathology of subjects with ASD.

Could Fetuin-A Be a Biomarker for Autism Spectrum Disorder and Cognitive Developmental Delay?

Early detection of cognitive developmental delay (CDD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is challenging, despite the numerous scientific studies conducted and different therapeutic strategies. Lack of a biomarker for autism is a limiting factor for early diagnosis, which could provide better outcome with early start of therapy. Because of the high serum fetuin-A concentration during intrauterine life, it has been suggested that fetuin-A may have a role in brain development. The current study sought to determine if fetuin-A, a multifunctional glycoprotein thought to have a role in brain development, may be used as a biomarker for the diagnosis of ASD and developmental delay. The study involved 55 children with cognitive developmental delays and 40 healthy children. Two categories of children with cognitive developmental delays were identified. The participants were subjected to a psychiatric assessment as well as developmental testing. Only 54.5% of the 55 individuals had CDD, whereas 45.5% had ASD. Using an ELISA kit, the levels of serum fetuin-A were determined spectrophotometrically. The serum fetuin-A levels in the patients from the test group were found to be significantly lower than in the healthy individuals (p < 0.001). The cutoff value for the serum fetuin-A levels for cognitive developmental delay and autism spectrum disorder was 518 µg/liter, according to the results of ROC analysis (84.6% sensitivity and 91.4% specificity, AUC: 0.95, p < 0.001). The findings suggest that the serum fetuin-A level may be used to diagnose autism spectrum disorder and cognitive developmental delays.