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Chen T, Jiang H, He Y, Shen Y, Huang Z, Gu Y, Wei Q, Zhao J, Chen X. Nanoplastics and chrysene pollution: Potential new triggers for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and hepatitis, insights from juvenile Siniperca chuatsi. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 922:171125. [PMID: 38382600 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Nanopolystyrene (NP) and chrysene (CHR) are ubiquitous contaminants in the natural environment; however, research on their hepatotoxicity and associated adverse effects remains relatively inadequate. The present study aimed to investigate the hepatotoxic effects of NP and/or CHR at environmentally relevant concentrations, as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms, in juvenile Siniperca chuatsi (mandarin fish). After a 21-day exposure period, the livers of exposed S. chuatsi exhibited macrostructural and microstructural damage accompanied by oxidative stress. Importantly, our study provides the first evidence that NP exposure leads to the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and hepatitis in S. chuatsi. Similarly, CHR exposure has also been found, for the first time, to cause hepatic sinusoidal dilatation (HSD) and hepatitis. Exposure to the combination of NP and CHR alleviated the symptoms of NAFLD, HSD, and hepatitis. Furthermore, our comprehensive multi-omic analysis revealed that the pathogenesis of NP-induced NAFLD was mainly due to induction of the triglyceride synthesis pathway and inhibition of the very-low-density lipoprotein secretion process. CHR induced HSD primarily through a reduction in vasoprotective ability and smooth muscle contractility. Hepatitis was induced by activation of the JAK-STAT/NF-kappa B signaling pathways, which upregulated the expression of inflammation-specific genes. Collectively, results of this study offer novel insight into the multiple hepatotoxicity endpoints of NP and/or CHR exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations in organisms, and highlight the importance of nanoplastic/CHR pollution for liver health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiantian Chen
- Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Hewei Jiang
- Shanghai Collaborative Innovation for Aquatic Animal Genetics and Breeding, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Yaoji He
- Shanghai Collaborative Innovation for Aquatic Animal Genetics and Breeding, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Yawei Shen
- Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Zequn Huang
- Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Yifeng Gu
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Qun Wei
- The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Jinliang Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Xiaowu Chen
- Shanghai Collaborative Innovation for Aquatic Animal Genetics and Breeding, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China.
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Fryar-Williams S, Tucker G, Strobel J, Huang Y, Clements P. Molecular Mechanism Biomarkers Predict Diagnosis in Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Psychosis, with Implications for Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15845. [PMID: 37958826 PMCID: PMC10650772 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Diagnostic uncertainty and relapse rates in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder are relatively high, indicating the potential involvement of other pathological mechanisms that could serve as diagnostic indicators to be targeted for adjunctive treatment. This study aimed to seek objective evidence of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase MTHFR C677T genotype-related bio markers in blood and urine. Vitamin and mineral cofactors related to methylation and indolamine-catecholamine metabolism were investigated. Biomarker status for 67 symptomatically well-defined cases and 67 asymptomatic control participants was determined using receiver operating characteristics, Spearman's correlation, and logistic regression. The 5.2%-prevalent MTHFR 677 TT genotype demonstrated a 100% sensitive and specific case-predictive biomarkers of increased riboflavin (vitamin B2) excretion. This was accompanied by low plasma zinc and indicators of a shift from low methylation to high methylation state. The 48.5% prevalent MTHFR 677 CC genotype model demonstrated a low-methylation phenotype with 93% sensitivity and 92% specificity and a negative predictive value of 100%. This model related to lower vitamin cofactors, high histamine, and HPLC urine indicators of lower vitamin B2 and restricted indole-catecholamine metabolism. The 46.3%-prevalent CT genotype achieved high predictive strength for a mixed methylation phenotype. Determination of MTHFR C677T genotype dependent functional biomarker phenotypes can advance diagnostic certainty and inform therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Fryar-Williams
- Youth in Mind Research Institute, Unley, SA 5061, Australia
- The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville, SA 5011, Australia
- Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research, Woodville, SA 5011, Australia
- Department of Nanoscale BioPhotonics, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, School of Biomedicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Graeme Tucker
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia;
| | - Jörg Strobel
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia;
| | - Yichao Huang
- Waite Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Urrbrae, SA 5064, Australia
| | - Peter Clements
- Waite Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Urrbrae, SA 5064, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
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Seyedinia SA, Tarahomi P, Abbarin D, Sedaghat K, Rashidy-Pour A, Yaribeygi H, Vafaei AA, Raise-Abdullahi P. Saffron and crocin ameliorate prenatal valproic acid-induced autistic-like behaviors and brain oxidative stress in the male offspring rats. Metab Brain Dis 2023; 38:2231-2241. [PMID: 37566156 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-023-01275-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Autism is a neurobehavioral disease that induces cognitive and behavioral alterations, usually accompanied by oxidative stress in the brain. Crocus sativus (saffron) and its active ingredient, crocin, have potent antioxidative effects that may benefit autistic behaviors. This study aimed to determine the effects of saffron extract and crocin against brain oxidative stress and behavioral, motor, and cognitive deficits in an animal model of autism in male offspring rats. 14 female rats were randomly divided into the saline and valproic acid (VPA) groups. Then, they were placed with mature male rats to mate and produce offspring. VPA (500 mg/kg, i.p.) was injected on day 12.5 of pregnancy (gestational day, GD 12.5) to induce an experimental model of autism. 48 male pups were left undisturbed for 29 days. First-round behavioral tests (before treatments) were performed on 30-33 post-natal days (PND), followed by 28 days of treatment (PND 34-61) with saffron (30 mg/kg, IP), crocin (15 or 30 mg/kg, i.p.), or saline (2 ml/kg, i.p.). The second round of behavioral tests (after treatments) was performed on PND 62-65 to assess the effects of the treatments on behavioral and cognitive features. In the end, animals were sacrificed under deep anesthesia, and their brains were dissected to evaluate the brain oxidative stress parameters, including malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and catalase (CAT). VPA injection into female rats increased anxiety-like behaviors, enhanced pain threshold, impaired motor functions, disturbed balance power, increased MDA, and decreased GSH and CAT in their male offspring. 28 days of treatment with saffron or crocin significantly ameliorated behavioral abnormalities, reduced MDA, and increased GSH and CAT levels. Brain oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathophysiology of autistic-like behaviors. Saffron and crocin ameliorate anxiety-like behaviors, pain responses, motor functions, and brain oxidative stress parameters in an experimental model of autism. Saffron and crocin may hold promise as herbal-based pharmacological treatments for individuals with autism. However, further histological evidence is needed to confirm their efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Ali Seyedinia
- Research Center of Physiology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
| | - Parnia Tarahomi
- Research Center of Physiology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
| | - Davood Abbarin
- Research Center of Physiology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
| | - Katayoun Sedaghat
- Research Center of Physiology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
| | - Ali Rashidy-Pour
- Research Center of Physiology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
| | - Habib Yaribeygi
- Research Center of Physiology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
| | - Abbas Ali Vafaei
- Research Center of Physiology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
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Sandhu A, Rawat K, Gautam V, Sharma A, Kumar A, Saha L. Phosphodiesterase inhibitor, ibudilast alleviates core behavioral and biochemical deficits in the prenatal valproic acid exposure model of autism spectrum disorder. Brain Res 2023; 1815:148443. [PMID: 37290608 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is categorized as a neurodevelopmental disorder, presenting with a variety of aetiological and phenotypical features. Ibudilast is known to produce beneficial effects in several neurological disorders including neuropathic pain, multiple sclerosis, etc. by displaying its neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. Here, in our study, the pharmacological outcome of ibudilast administration was investigated in the prenatal valproic acid (VPA)-model of ASD in Wistar rats. METHODS Autistic-like symptoms were induced in Wistar male pups of dams administered with Valproic acid (VPA) on embryonic day 12.5. VPA-exposed male pups were administered with two doses of ibudilast (5 and10 mg/kg) and all the groups were evaluated for behavioral parameters like social interaction, spatial memory/learning, anxiety, locomotor activity, and nociceptive threshold. Further, the possible neuroprotective effect of ibudilast was evaluated by assessing oxidative stress, neuroinflammation (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10) in the hippocampus, % area of Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive cells and neuronal damage in the cerebellum. KEY FINDINGS Treatment with ibudilast significantly attenuated prenatal VPA exposure associated social interaction and spatial learning/memory deficits, anxiety, hyperactivity, and increased nociceptive threshold, and it decreased oxidative stress markers, pro-inflammatory markers (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6), and % area of GFAP-positive cells and restored neuronal damage. CONCLUSIONS Ibudilast treatment has restored crucial ASD-related behavioural abnormalities, potentially through neuroprotection. Therefore, benefits of ibudilast administration in animal models of ASD suggest that ibudilast may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arushi Sandhu
- Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), 4th Floor, Research Block B, Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Kajal Rawat
- Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), 4th Floor, Research Block B, Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Vipasha Gautam
- Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), 4th Floor, Research Block B, Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Antika Sharma
- Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), 4th Floor, Research Block B, Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Anil Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), 4th Floor, Research Block B, Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Lekha Saha
- Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), 4th Floor, Research Block B, Chandigarh 160012, India.
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Fowler SP, Gimeno Ruiz de Porras D, Swartz MD, Stigler Granados P, Heilbrun LP, Palmer RF. Daily Early-Life Exposures to Diet Soda and Aspartame Are Associated with Autism in Males: A Case-Control Study. Nutrients 2023; 15:3772. [PMID: 37686804 PMCID: PMC10490529 DOI: 10.3390/nu15173772] [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: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Since its introduction, aspartame-the leading sweetener in U.S. diet sodas (DS)-has been reported to cause neurological problems in some users. In prospective studies, the offspring of mothers who consumed diet sodas/beverages (DSB) daily during pregnancy experienced increased health problems. We hypothesized that gestational/early-life exposure to ≥1 DS/day (DSearly) or equivalent aspartame (ASPearly: ≥177 mg/day) increases autism risk. The case-control Autism Tooth Fairy Study obtained retrospective dietary recalls for DSB and aspartame consumption during pregnancy/breastfeeding from the mothers of 235 offspring with autism spectrum disorder (ASD: cases) and 121 neurotypically developing offspring (controls). The exposure odds ratios (ORs) for DSearly and ASPearly were computed for autism, ASD, and the non-regressive conditions of each. Among males, the DSearly odds were tripled for autism (OR = 3.1; 95% CI: 1.02, 9.7) and non-regressive autism (OR = 3.5; 95% CI: 1.1, 11.1); the ASPearly odds were even higher: OR = 3.4 (95% CI: 1.1, 10.4) and 3.7 (95% CI: 1.2, 11.8), respectively (p < 0.05 for each). The ORs for non-regressive ASD in males were almost tripled but were not statistically significant: DSearly OR = 2.7 (95% CI: 0.9, 8.4); ASPearly OR = 2.9 (95% CI: 0.9, 8.8). No statistically significant associations were found in females. Our findings contribute to the growing literature raising concerns about potential offspring harm from maternal DSB/aspartame intake in pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Parten Fowler
- Department of Medicine, Joe R. & Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - David Gimeno Ruiz de Porras
- Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health in San Antonio, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 7411 John Smith Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA;
- Center for Research in Occupational Health, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Michael D. Swartz
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 1200 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Paula Stigler Granados
- Divisions of Environmental Health and Global Health, School of Public Health, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182, USA;
| | - Lynne Parsons Heilbrun
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health in San Antonio, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 7411 John Smith Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA;
| | - Raymond F. Palmer
- Department of Family Practice and Community Medicine, Joe R. & Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA;
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Wang J, Hua G, Yang X, Zhang L, Ma Y, Ma Q, Li R, Wu K, Zhao Y, Deng X. A newly identified small tRNA fragment reveals the regulation of different wool types and oxidative stress in lambs. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10213. [PMID: 37353550 PMCID: PMC10290153 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36895-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Novel small RNAs derived from tRNAs are continuously identified, however, their biological functions are rarely reported. Here, we accidentally found the reads peak at 32nt during statistical analysis on the miRNA-seq data of lamb skin tissue, and found that it was related to the wool type of lambs. This 32nt peak was composed of small tRNA fragments. The main component sequence of this peak was a novel small tRNA derived from Glycyl tRNA (tRNAGly), the expression level of tRNAGly-derived tRNA fragments (tRFGly) was 5.77 folds higher in the coarse wool lambs than that in the fine wool lambs. However, in contrast, the expression of tRNAGly in the skin of fine wool lambs is 6.28 folds more than that in coarse wool lambs. tRNAGly promoted the synthesis of high glycine protein including KAP6 in fine wool lamb skin. These proteins were reported as the major genes for fine curly wool. Integrative analysis of target gene prediction, proteomics and metabolomics results revealed that tRFGly reduced the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the skin of coarse wool lambs by targeted inhibition of the Metabolic signal and the corresponding Glutathione metabolic pathway, on the contrary, the level of oxidative stress in the skin of fine wool lambs was significantly higher. This study revealed for the first time the relationship between tRNAGly and its derived tRFGly and animal traits. tRFGly has the function of targeting and regulating protein synthesis. At the same time, tRFGly can reduce the expression of its resource complete tRNA, thereby reducing its ability to transport specific amino acid and affecting the expression of corresponding proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiankui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding & Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture & Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Guoying Hua
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding & Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture & Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Xue Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding & Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture & Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Letian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding & Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture & Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Yuhao Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding & Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture & Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Qing Ma
- Animal Science Institute of Ningxia Agriculture and Forestry Academy, Yinchuan, 750002, China
| | - Rui Li
- Jinfeng Animal Husbandry Group Co., Ltd., Chifeng, 024000, China
| | - Keliang Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding & Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture & Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Yaofeng Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding & Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture & Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Xuemei Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding & Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture & Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
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Simchi L, Gupta PK, Feuermann Y, Kaphzan H. Elevated ROS levels during the early development of Angelman syndrome alter the apoptotic capacity of the developing neural precursor cells. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:2382-2397. [PMID: 36991133 PMCID: PMC10611580 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02038-7] [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: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorder caused by the maternally inherited loss of function of the UBE3A gene. AS is characterized by a developmental delay, lack of speech, motor dysfunction, epilepsy, autistic features, happy demeanor, and intellectual disability. While the cellular roles of UBE3A are not fully understood, studies suggest that the lack of UBE3A function is associated with elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Despite the accumulating evidence emphasizing the importance of ROS during early brain development and its involvement in different neurodevelopmental disorders, up to date, the levels of ROS in AS neural precursor cells (NPCs) and the consequences on AS embryonic neural development have not been elucidated. In this study we show multifaceted mitochondrial aberration in AS brain-derived embryonic NPCs, which exhibit elevated mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), lower levels of endogenous reduced glutathione, excessive mitochondrial ROS (mROS) levels, and increased apoptosis compared to wild-type (WT) littermates. In addition, we report that glutathione replenishment by glutathione-reduced ethyl ester (GSH-EE) corrects the excessive mROS levels and attenuates the enhanced apoptosis in AS NPCs. Studying the glutathione redox imbalance and mitochondrial abnormalities in embryonic AS NPCs provides an essential insight into the involvement of UBE3A in early neural development, information that can serve as a powerful avenue towards a broader view of AS pathogenesis. Moreover, since mitochondrial dysfunction and elevated ROS levels were associated with other neurodevelopmental disorders, the findings herein suggest some potential shared underlying mechanisms for these disorders as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilach Simchi
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Pooja Kri Gupta
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Yonatan Feuermann
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Hanoch Kaphzan
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
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Nasrallah O, Alzeer S. Measuring Some Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Autistic Syrian Children and Their Siblings: A Case-Control Study. Biomark Insights 2022; 17:11772719221123913. [PMID: 36120384 PMCID: PMC9476242 DOI: 10.1177/11772719221123913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder whose cause remains unknown. Oxidative stress is one of the possible causes of many disorders, including neurological ones. This study aims to measure some oxidative stress biomarkers (Malondialdehyde “MDA,” Advanced Oxidation Protein Product “AOPP,” Glutathione “GSH”) within Syrian children with ASD. Methods: MDA, AOPP & GSH were measured in the plasma of a total of 60 children. The ages of the children ranged from 1 to 13 years old. Thirty children had ASD and were compared with 30 controls that don’t have ASD. Fifteen of the controls were siblings of an ASD child, while the remaining 15 had no relations with ASD. Results: MDA and AOPP plasma levels were higher in ASD children compared with non-related controls (P = .0001). However, there were no significant differences between MDA and AOPP plasma levels in ASD children in comparison with related controls (P > .05). Alternatively, GSH plasma levels were lower in ASD children compared with both related and non-related controls (P = .0001). Conclusion: Further studies are needed to investigate more regarding the diagnostic use of oxidative stress biomarkers, and the therapeutic use of antioxidants in children affected with the autism spectrum disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oula Nasrallah
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria
| | - Samar Alzeer
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Kalamoon, Deir Atiyah, Syria
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9
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Jensen AR, Lane AL, Werner BA, McLees SE, Fletcher TS, Frye RE. Modern Biomarkers for Autism Spectrum Disorder: Future Directions. Mol Diagn Ther 2022; 26:483-495. [PMID: 35759118 PMCID: PMC9411091 DOI: 10.1007/s40291-022-00600-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder is an increasingly prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder in the world today, with an estimated 2% of the population being affected in the USA. A major complicating factor in diagnosing, treating, and understanding autism spectrum disorder is that defining the disorder is solely based on the observation of behavior. Thus, recent research has focused on identifying specific biological abnormalities in autism spectrum disorder that can provide clues to diagnosis and treatment. Biomarkers are an objective way to identify and measure biological abnormalities for diagnostic purposes as well as to measure changes resulting from treatment. This current opinion paper discusses the state of research of various biomarkers currently in development for autism spectrum disorder. The types of biomarkers identified include prenatal history, genetics, neurological including neuroimaging, neurophysiologic, and visual attention, metabolic including abnormalities in mitochondrial, folate, trans-methylation, and trans-sulfuration pathways, immune including autoantibodies and cytokine dysregulation, autonomic nervous system, and nutritional. Many of these biomarkers have promising preliminary evidence for prenatal and post-natal pre-symptomatic risk assessment, confirmation of diagnosis, subtyping, and treatment response. However, most biomarkers have not undergone validation studies and most studies do not investigate biomarkers with clinically relevant comparison groups. Although the field of biomarker research in autism spectrum disorder is promising, it appears that it is currently in the early stages of development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda R Jensen
- Section on Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital, 1919 E Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ, 85016, USA
| | - Alison L Lane
- Section on Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital, 1919 E Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ, 85016, USA
| | - Brianna A Werner
- Section on Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital, 1919 E Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ, 85016, USA
| | - Sallie E McLees
- Section on Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital, 1919 E Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ, 85016, USA
| | - Tessa S Fletcher
- Section on Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital, 1919 E Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ, 85016, USA.,Department of Child Health, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Richard E Frye
- Section on Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital, 1919 E Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ, 85016, USA.
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10
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Čorejová A, Fazekaš T, Jánošíková D, Repiský J, Pospíšilová V, Miková M, Rauová D, Ostatníková D, Kyselovič J, Hrabovská A. Improvement of the Clinical and Psychological Profile of Patients with Autism after Methylcobalamin Syrup Administration. Nutrients 2022; 14:2035. [PMID: 35631176 PMCID: PMC9144375 DOI: 10.3390/nu14102035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Autism, also known as autism-spectrum disorder, is a pervasive developmental disorder affecting social skills and psychological status in particular. The complex etiopathogenesis of autism limits efficient therapy, which leads to problems with the normal social integration of the individual and causes severe family distress. Injectable methylcobalamin was shown to improve the clinical status of patients via enhanced cell oxidative status and/or methylation capacity. Here we tested the efficiency of a syrup form of methylcobalamin in treating autism. (2) Methods: Methylcobalamin was administered daily at 500 µg dose to autistic children and young adults (n = 25) during a 200-day period. Clinical and psychological status was evaluated by parents and psychologists and plasma levels of reduced and oxidized glutathione, vitamin B12, homocysteine, and cysteine were determined before the treatment, and at day 100 and day 200 of the treatment. (3) Results: Good patient compliance was reported. Methylcobalamin treatment gradually improved the overall clinical and psychological status, with the highest impact in the social domain, followed by the cognitive, behavioral and communication characteristics. Changes in the clinical and psychological status were strongly associated with the changes in the level of reduced glutathione and reduced/oxidized glutathione ratio. (4) Conclusion: A high dose of methylcobalamin administered in syrup form ameliorates the clinical and psychological status of autistic individuals, probably due to the improved oxidative status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adela Čorejová
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Slovak Medical University in Bratislava, 833 03 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Tomáš Fazekaš
- Department of Physical Chemistry of Drugs, Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University Bratislava, 832 32 Bratislava, Slovakia;
| | - Daniela Jánošíková
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy and Arts, Trnava University, 918 43 Trnava, Slovakia; (D.J.); (J.R.)
| | - Juraj Repiský
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy and Arts, Trnava University, 918 43 Trnava, Slovakia; (D.J.); (J.R.)
| | | | - Maria Miková
- Autism Center FRANCESCO in Prešov, 080 01 Prešov, Slovakia;
| | - Drahomíra Rauová
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis and Nuclear Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University Bratislava, 832 32 Bratislava, Slovakia;
| | - Daniela Ostatníková
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University Bratislava, 813 72 Bratislava, Slovakia;
| | - Ján Kyselovič
- Clinical Research Unit, 5th Department of Internal Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University Bratislava, 813 72 Bratislava, Slovakia;
| | - Anna Hrabovská
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University Bratislava, 832 32 Bratislava, Slovakia
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11
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Altered Blood Brain Barrier Permeability and Oxidative Stress in Cntnap2 Knockout Rat Model. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11102725. [PMID: 35628852 PMCID: PMC9146766 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11102725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by three core symptoms, specifically impaired social behavior, stereotypic/repetitive behaviors, and sensory/communication deficits. Although the exact pathophysiology of ASD is still unknown, host genetics, oxidative stress, and compromised blood brain barrier (BBB) have been implicated in predisposition to ASD. With regards to genetics, mutations in the genes such as CNTNAP2 have been associated with increased susceptibility of developing ASD. Although some studies observed conflicting results suggesting no association of CNTNAP2 with ASD, other investigations correlated this gene with autism. In addition, CNTNAP2 mediated signaling is generally considered to play a role in neurological disorders due to its critical role in neurodevelopment, neurotransmission, and synaptic plasticity. In this investigation, we studied BBB integrity and oxidative stress in Cntnap2−/− rats. We observed that the BBB permeability was significantly increased in Cntnap2−/− rats compared to littermate wild-type (WT) animals as determined by FITC-dextran and Evans blue assay. High levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and lower amounts of reduced glutathione were observed in brain homogenates of Cntnap2−/− rats, suggesting oxidative stress. Brain sections from Cntnap2−/− rats showed intense inducible nitric oxide synthase immunostaining, which was undetectable in WT animals. Quantification of nitric oxide in brain homogenates revealed significantly high levels in Cntnap2−/− rats compared to the control group. As increased permeability of the BBB and oxidative stress have been observed in ASD individuals, our results suggest that Cntnap2−/− rats have a high construct and face validity and can be explored to develop effective therapeutic modalities.
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12
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Carducci F, Ardiccioni C, Fiorini R, Vignini A, Di Paolo A, Alia S, Barucca M, Biscotti MA. The ALA5/ALA6/ALA7 repeat polymorphisms of the glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx1) gene and autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res 2022; 15:215-221. [PMID: 34997988 PMCID: PMC9304179 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Autism is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder leading to deficits in social interaction, communication, and several activities. An increasing number of evidence suggests a role of oxidative stress in the etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Indeed, impaired antioxidant mechanisms may lead to the inadequate removal of H2O2 with a consequent increase in highly active hydroxyl radicals and other reactive oxygen species causing cellular damages. The GPx1 is one of the most important enzymes counteracting oxidative stress. In this work, we investigated a possible correlation between the GCG repeat polymorphism present in the first exon of GPx1 gene encoding a tract of five to seven alanine residues (ALA5, ALA6, and ALA7) and ASD. Our findings highlighted a high frequency of ALA5 allele in ASD subjects. Moreover, proteins corresponding to the three GPx1 variants were produced in vitro, and the evaluation of their activity showed a lower values for GPx1 having ALA5 polymorphism. The comparison of the secondary and tertiary structure predictions revealed an alpha‐helix in correspondence of alanine stretch only in the case of GPx1‐ALA7 variant. Finally, to better investigate protein structure, steady‐state fluorescence measurements of GPx1 intrinsic tryptophan were carried out and the three tested proteins exhibited a different stability under denaturing conditions. This work demonstrates the importance in adopting a multidisciplinary strategy to comprehend the role of GPx1 in ASD. Results here obtained suggest a possible role of ALA5 GPx1 variant in ASD. However, given the multifactorial nature of autism, this evidence might be a piece of a more complex puzzle being the GPx1 enzyme part of a complex pathway in which several proteins are involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Carducci
- Dipartimento di Scienze Della Vita e Dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica Delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Chiara Ardiccioni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Della Vita e Dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica Delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.,New York-Marche Structural Biology Center (NY-MaSBiC), Università Politecnica Delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Rosamaria Fiorini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Della Vita e Dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica Delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Arianna Vignini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Specialistiche ed Odontostomatologiche, Università Politecnica Delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Alice Di Paolo
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Specialistiche ed Odontostomatologiche, Università Politecnica Delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Sonila Alia
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Specialistiche ed Odontostomatologiche, Università Politecnica Delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Marco Barucca
- Dipartimento di Scienze Della Vita e Dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica Delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Maria Assunta Biscotti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Della Vita e Dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica Delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
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13
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Liu X, Lin J, Zhang H, Khan NU, Zhang J, Tang X, Cao X, Shen L. Oxidative Stress in Autism Spectrum Disorder-Current Progress of Mechanisms and Biomarkers. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:813304. [PMID: 35299821 PMCID: PMC8921264 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.813304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a type of neurodevelopmental disorder that has been diagnosed in an increasing number of children around the world. Existing data suggest that early diagnosis and intervention can improve ASD outcomes. However, the causes of ASD remain complex and unclear, and there are currently no clinical biomarkers for autism spectrum disorder. More mechanisms and biomarkers of autism have been found with the development of advanced technology such as mass spectrometry. Many recent studies have found a link between ASD and elevated oxidative stress, which may play a role in its development. ASD is caused by oxidative stress in several ways, including protein post-translational changes (e.g., carbonylation), abnormal metabolism (e.g., lipid peroxidation), and toxic buildup [e.g., reactive oxygen species (ROS)]. To detect elevated oxidative stress in ASD, various biomarkers have been developed and employed. This article summarizes recent studies about the mechanisms and biomarkers of oxidative stress. Potential biomarkers identified in this study could be used for early diagnosis and evaluation of ASD intervention, as well as to inform and target ASD pharmacological or nutritional treatment interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xukun Liu
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.,Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China.,Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jing Lin
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Huajie Zhang
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Naseer Ullah Khan
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Tang
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xueshan Cao
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Liming Shen
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.,Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China.,Brain Disease and Big Data Research Institute, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
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14
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Jiang C, Huang H, Kang X, Yang L, Xi Z, Sun H, Pluth MD, Yi L. NBD-based synthetic probes for sensing small molecules and proteins: design, sensing mechanisms and biological applications. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:7436-7495. [PMID: 34075930 PMCID: PMC8763210 DOI: 10.1039/d0cs01096k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Compounds with a nitrobenzoxadiazole (NBD) skeleton exhibit prominent useful properties including environmental sensitivity, high reactivity toward amines and biothiols (including H2S) accompanied by distinct colorimetric and fluorescent changes, fluorescence-quenching ability, and small size, all of which facilitate biomolecular sensing and self-assembly. Amines are important biological nucleophiles, and the unique activity of NBD ethers with amines has allowed for site-specific protein labelling and for the detection of enzyme activities. Both H2S and biothiols are involved in a wide range of physiological processes in mammals, and misregulation of these small molecules is associated with numerous diseases including cancers. In this review, we focus on NBD-based synthetic probes as advanced chemical tools for biomolecular sensing. Specifically, we discuss the sensing mechanisms and selectivity of the probes, the design strategies for multi-reactable multi-quenching probes, and the associated biological applications of these important constructs. We also highlight self-assembled NBD-based probes and outline future directions for NBD-based chemosensors. We hope that this comprehensive review will facilitate the development of future probes for investigating and understanding different biological processes and aid the development of potential theranostic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenyang Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites and Beijing Key Lab of Bioprocess, Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT), Beijing 100029, China.
| | - Haojie Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites and Beijing Key Lab of Bioprocess, Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT), Beijing 100029, China.
| | - Xueying Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites and Beijing Key Lab of Bioprocess, Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT), Beijing 100029, China.
| | - Liu Yang
- Department of Chemistry and Center of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films (COSDAF), City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Zhen Xi
- State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry and Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry, National Pesticide Engineering Research Center, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
| | - Hongyan Sun
- Department of Chemistry and Center of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films (COSDAF), City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. and Key Laboratory of Biochip Technology, Biotech and Health Centre, Shenzhen Research Institute of City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Michael D Pluth
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Materials Science Institute, Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact, Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA.
| | - Long Yi
- State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites and Beijing Key Lab of Bioprocess, Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT), Beijing 100029, China.
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15
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Singla R, Mishra A, Joshi R, Kumar R, Sarma P, Sharma AR, Kaur G, Bhatia A, Medhi B. Inhibition of the ERK1/2 Phosphorylation by Dextromethorphan Protects against Core Autistic Symptoms in VPA Induced Autistic Rats: In Silico and in Vivo Drug Repurposition Study. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:1749-1767. [PMID: 33913688 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters is explicitly related to the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The role of an NMDA receptor antagonist, dextromethorphan, was studied in ameliorating the ASD-like symptoms by regulating the excitatory and inhibitory imbalance using the valproic acid (VPA) model of ASD. Female Wistar rats were administered VPA [600 mg/kg on embryonic day ED-12.5] through intraperitoneal (ip) injection to induce ASD in pups. Autistic pups were then given dextromethorphan (10, 15, and 30 mg/kg; ip) and risperidone (2.5 mg/kg; ip) from PND 23 to 43 in different groups. Behavioral tests (three chamber sociability, self-grooming, Morris water maze, elevated plus maze, open field, rotarod, grip strength), oxidative stress and inflammatory markers, histological evaluation (H&E, Nissil staining), and NMDA and ERK1/2 expression by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR were done. The in silico modeling of dextromethorphan against PPDA, TCN-201, MK-22, EVT-101 on NMDA receptors was also performed. Dextromethorphan (30 mg/kg) rescued the impaired behavioral patterns including social excitability, hyperactivity, repetitive and restricted behaviors as well as mitigation of the memory and motor coordination. The levels of various oxidative stress markers (GSH, SOD, catalase, MDA) and inflammatory markers (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α) were ameliorated by different doses of dextromethorphan. It also reduced the neuronal injury score and rescued the overly expressed pERK1/2 and NMDA signaling in both the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of the autistic pups. In silico results showed favorable binding of dextromethorphan against TCN-201 and MK-22 binding sites. The present study provided experimental evidence for the potential therapeutic role of dextromethorphan in attenuating autism symptomatology in the ASD model of rats. Thus, modulation of the glutamatergic signaling can be a potential target for ASD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubal Singla
- Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Abhishek Mishra
- Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Rupa Joshi
- Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Rohit Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Phulen Sarma
- Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Amit Raj Sharma
- Department of Neurology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Gurjeet Kaur
- Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Alka Bhatia
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Biotechnology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Bikash Medhi
- Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh 160012, India
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16
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Liang Y, Yu H, Ke X, Eyles D, Sun R, Wang Z, Huang S, Lin L, McGrath JJ, Lu J, Guo X, Yao P. Vitamin D deficiency worsens maternal diabetes induced neurodevelopmental disorder by potentiating hyperglycemia-mediated epigenetic changes. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2021; 1491:74-88. [PMID: 33305416 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Many studies have shown that vitamin D (VD) deficiency may be a risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and schizophrenia, although causative mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the potential role and effect of VD on maternal diabetes induced autism-related phenotypes. The in vitro study found that enhancing genomic VD signaling by overexpressing the VD receptor (VDR) in human neural progenitor cells ACS-5003 protects against hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and inflammation by activating Nrf2 and its target genes, including SOD2 and HMOX1, and accordingly, VDR gene knockdown worsens the problem. In the two in vivo models we explored, maternal diabetes was used to establish an animal model of relevance to ASD, and mice lacking 25-hydroxyvitamin D 1-alpha-hydroxylase (the rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of 1,25(OH)2D3) were used to develop a model of VD deficiency (VDD). We show that although prenatal VDD itself does not produce ASD-relevant phenotypes, it significantly potentiates maternal diabetes induced epigenetic modifications and autism-related phenotypes. Postnatal manipulation of VD has no effect on maternal diabetes induced autism-related phenotypes. We conclude that VDD potentiates maternal diabetes induced autism-related phenotypes in offspring by epigenetic mechanisms. This study adds to other preclinical studies linking prenatal VDD with a neurodevelopmental disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Liang
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - Hong Yu
- Department of Pediatrics, Foshan University, Foshan Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Foshan, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoyin Ke
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - Darryl Eyles
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, the Park Centre for Mental Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ruoyu Sun
- Department of Pediatrics, Foshan University, Foshan Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Foshan, P.R. China
| | - Zichen Wang
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - Saijun Huang
- Department of Pediatrics, Foshan University, Foshan Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Foshan, P.R. China
| | - Ling Lin
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - John J McGrath
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, the Park Centre for Mental Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- National Centre for Register-based Research, Department of Economics and Business Economics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jianping Lu
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoling Guo
- Department of Pediatrics, Foshan University, Foshan Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Foshan, P.R. China
| | - Paul Yao
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, P.R. China
- Department of Pediatrics, Foshan University, Foshan Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Foshan, P.R. China
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17
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Rahi S, Gupta R, Sharma A, Mehan S. Smo-Shh signaling activator purmorphamine ameliorates neurobehavioral, molecular, and morphological alterations in an intracerebroventricular propionic acid-induced experimental model of autism. Hum Exp Toxicol 2021; 40:1880-1898. [PMID: 33906504 DOI: 10.1177/09603271211013456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disease characterized by cognitive and sensorimotor impairment. Numerous research findings have consistently shown that alteration of Smo-Shh (smoothened-sonic hedgehog) signaling during the developmental process plays a significant role in ASD and triggers neuronal changes by promoting neuroinflammation and apoptotic markers. Purmorphamine (PUR), a small purine-derived agonist of the Smo-Shh pathway, shows resistance to hippocampal neuronal cell oxidation and decreases neuronal cell death. The goal of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective potential of PUR in brain intoxication induced by intracerebroventricular-propionic acid (ICV-PPA) in rats, with a focus on its effect on Smo-Shh regulation in the brain of rats. In addition, we analyze the impact of PUR on myelin basic protein (MBP) and apoptotic markers such as Caspase-3, Bax (pro-apoptotic), and Bcl-2 (anti-apoptotic) in rat brain homogenates. Chronic ICV-PPA infusion was administered consecutively for 11 days to induce autism in rats. In order to investigate behavioral alterations, rats were tested for spatial learning in the Morris Water Maze (MWM), locomotive alterations using actophotometer, and beam crossing task, while Forced Swimming Test (FST) for depressive behavior. PUR treatment with 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg (i.p.) was administered from day 12 to 44. Besides cellular, molecular and neuroinflammatory analyses, neurotransmitter levels and oxidative markers have also been studied in brain homogenates. The results of this study have shown that PUR increases the level of Smo-Shh and restores the neurochemical levels, and potentially prevents morphological changes, including demyelination.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Rahi
- Neuropharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacology, 75126ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, India
| | - R Gupta
- Neuropharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacology, 75126ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, India
| | - A Sharma
- Neuropharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacology, 75126ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, India
| | - S Mehan
- Neuropharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacology, 75126ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, India
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18
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Emerging mechanisms of valproic acid-induced neurotoxic events in autism and its implications for pharmacological treatment. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 137:111322. [PMID: 33761592 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a sort of mental disorder marked by deficits in cognitive and communication abilities. To date no effective cure for this pernicious disease has been available. Valproic acid (VPA) is a broad-spectrum, antiepileptic drug, and it is also a potent teratogen. Epidemiological studies have shown that children exposed to VPA are at higher risk for ASD during the first trimester of their gestational development. Several animal and human studies have demonstrated important behavioral impairments and morphological changes in the brain following VPA treatment. However, the mechanism of VPA exposure-induced ASD remains unclear. Several factors are involved in the pathological phase of ASD, including aberrant excitation/inhibition of synaptic transmission, neuroinflammation, diminished neurogenesis, oxidative stress, etc. In this review, we aim to outline the current knowledge of the critical pathophysiological mechanisms underlying VPA exposure-induced ASD. This review will give insight toward understanding the complex nature of VPA-induced neuronal toxicity and exploring a new path toward the development of novel pharmacological treatment against ASD.
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19
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Bjørklund G, Doşa MD, Maes M, Dadar M, Frye RE, Peana M, Chirumbolo S. The impact of glutathione metabolism in autism spectrum disorder. Pharmacol Res 2021; 166:105437. [PMID: 33493659 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
This paper reviews the potential role of glutathione (GSH) in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). GSH plays a key role in the detoxification of xenobiotics and maintenance of balance in intracellular redox pathways. Recent data showed that imbalances in the GSH redox system are an important factor in the pathophysiology of ASD. Furthermore, ASD is accompanied by decreased concentrations of reduced GSH in part caused by oxidation of GSH into glutathione disulfide (GSSG). GSSG can react with protein sulfhydryl (SH) groups, thereby causing proteotoxic stress and other abnormalities in SH-containing enzymes in the brain and blood. Moreover, alterations in the GSH metabolism via its effects on redox-independent mechanisms are other processes associated with the pathophysiology of ASD. GSH-related regulation of glutamate receptors such as the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor can contribute to glutamate excitotoxicity. Synergistic and antagonistic interactions between glutamate and GSH can result in neuronal dysfunction. These interactions can involve transcription factors of the immune pathway, such as activator protein 1 and nuclear factor (NF)-κB, thereby interacting with neuroinflammatory mechanisms, ultimately leading to neuronal damage. Neuronal apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction are recently outlined as significant factors linking GSH impairments with the pathophysiology of ASD. Moreover, GSH regulates the methylation of DNA and modulates epigenetics. Existing data support a protective role of the GSH system in ASD development. Future research should focus on the effects of GSH redox signaling in ASD and should explore new therapeutic approaches by targeting the GSH system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geir Bjørklund
- Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (CONEM), Toften 24, 8610, Mo i Rana, Norway.
| | - Monica Daniela Doşa
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Ovidius University of Constanta, Campus, 900470, Constanta, Romania.
| | - Michael Maes
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Impact Research Center, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Maryam Dadar
- Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
| | - Richard E Frye
- Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, AZ, USA; Department of Child Health, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | | | - Salvatore Chirumbolo
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy; CONEM Scientific Secretary, Verona, Italy
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20
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Impaired Thiol/Disulfide Homeostasis in Children Diagnosed with Autism: A Case-Control Study. J Mol Neurosci 2021; 71:1394-1402. [PMID: 33433850 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-021-01790-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Although genetic factors occupy an important place in the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), oxidative stress and exposure to environmental toxicants have also been linked to the condition. The aim of this study was to examine dynamic thiol/disulfide homeostasis in children diagnosed with ASD. Forty-eight children aged 3-12 years diagnosed with ASD and 40 age- and sex-matched healthy children were included in the study. A sociodemographic data form was completed for all the cases, and the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) was applied to the patients. Thiol/disulfide parameters in serum were measured in all cases and compared between the two groups. Mean native thiol, total thiol concentrations (μmol/L), and median reduced thiol ratios were significantly lower in the ASD group than in the control group (p = 0.001 for all). Median disulfide concentrations (μmol/L), redox potential, and median oxidized thiol ratios were significantly higher in the ASD group than in the control group (p = 0.001, p = 0.001, and p = 0.001, respectively). ROC analysis revealed that area under the curve (AUC) values with "excellent discriminatory potential," for native thiol, total thiol, the reduced thiol ration, the oxidized thiol ratio, and redox potential and with "acceptable discriminatory potential" for disulfide were significantly capable of differentiating individuals with ASD from healthy individuals. No correlation was determined between the severity of autism and laboratory parameters. Impaired dynamic thiol/disulfide homeostasis was observed in children with ASD, suggesting that dynamic thiol/disulfide homeostasis in serum may be of diagnostic value in autism.
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21
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Determination of glutathione and glutathione disulfide using zone fluidics and fluorimetric detection. Talanta 2021; 222:121559. [DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2020.121559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 08/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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22
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Yang C, Tu X, Ji X, Ye H, Li S, Sun L, Yi L, Xi Z. Investigation of thiolysis of 4-substituted SBD derivatives and rational design of a GSH-selective fluorescent probe. Org Biomol Chem 2021; 19:6527-6533. [PMID: 34259299 DOI: 10.1039/d1ob01114f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
In order to evaluate 7-sulfonamide benzoxadiazole (SBD) derivatives for the development of fluorescent probes, herein we investigated the thiolysis reactivity and selectivity of a series of SBD compounds with different atoms (N/O/S/Se) at the 4-position. Both SBD-amine and SBD-ether are stable toward biothiols in buffer (pH 7.4), while SBD-selenoether can react efficiently with biothiols GSH/Hcy, Cys, and H2S to produce SBD-SG/S-Hcy, SBD-NH-Cys, and SBD-SH, respectively, with three different sets of spectral signals. Therefore, the SBD-selenoether compounds should be useful platforms for the differentiation of these biothiols. Though SBD-alkylthioether shows much lower reactivity than SBD-selenoether, SBD-arylthioether is a tunable motif and structural modifications at the aryl moiety enable the rate of thiol-mediated thiolysis to be modified. To this end, an ER-targeted GSH-selective fluorescent probe 7 was rationally designed via thiolysis of SBD-arylthioether. Compared with control probe SBD-Cl, probe 7 exhibits improved GSH selectivity and better biocompatibility. In total, this study highlights that the modification at the 4-position of SBD is an efficient strategy for the development of new fluorescent probes with tunable reactivity and selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry and Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry, National Pesticide Engineering Research Center, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.
| | - Xiaoqiang Tu
- State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites and Beijing Key Lab of Bioprocess, Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT), Beijing 100029, China.
| | - Xiuru Ji
- Tianjin Key Laboratory on Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics (Theranostics), School of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Haishun Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites and Beijing Key Lab of Bioprocess, Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT), Beijing 100029, China.
| | - Shan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites and Beijing Key Lab of Bioprocess, Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT), Beijing 100029, China.
| | - Lu Sun
- Tianjin Key Laboratory on Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics (Theranostics), School of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Long Yi
- State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites and Beijing Key Lab of Bioprocess, Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT), Beijing 100029, China.
| | - Zhen Xi
- State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry and Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry, National Pesticide Engineering Research Center, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.
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23
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Zambrelli E, Lividini A, Spadavecchia S, Turner K, Canevini MP. Effects of Supplementation With Antioxidant Agents on Sleep in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:689277. [PMID: 34262494 PMCID: PMC8273250 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.689277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition, whose etiology remains poorly understood in most cases. Several genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors have been implicated in ASD pathogenesis and numerous studies have provided evidences for increased levels of oxidative stress and reduced antioxidant capacity in patients with ASD. Recent clinical trials explored supplementation with antioxidant agents as a potential therapeutic strategy for ASD, investigating the impact of this treatment on behavioral symptoms and on most common comorbidities of the disease, including sleep disturbances. Among all medical conditions associated to ASD, sleep problems are highly prevalent and are supposed to be positively related to the severity of the disease. Moreover, studies on animal models support the hypothesis of a relationship between oxidative stress and sleep deprivation. The aim of this review is to summarize the current state of the literature on the effect of antioxidant treatment on sleep disturbances in patients with ASD. Twenty-one articles were included in final synthesis. Of them, 15 studies involved Melatonin, 1 Tryptophan and 5 focused on supplementation with other antioxidant agents (namely Coenzyme Q10, L-Carnosine, Luteolin and Quercetin). Despite the high prevalence of comorbid sleep troubles in ASD, there is a paucity of data on the efficacy of antioxidant agents in those patients. Further research is needed to better define the role of antioxidants agents as adjunctive therapy in the management sleep disorders in children and adolescents affected with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Zambrelli
- Childhood and Adolescence Neuropsychiatry Unit, Epilepsy Center-Sleep Medicine Center, Azienda Socio-Sanitaria Territoriale Santi Paolo e Carlo, San Paolo Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Althea Lividini
- Childhood and Adolescence Neuropsychiatry Unit, Epilepsy Center-Sleep Medicine Center, Azienda Socio-Sanitaria Territoriale Santi Paolo e Carlo, San Paolo Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Sofia Spadavecchia
- Childhood and Adolescence Neuropsychiatry Unit, Epilepsy Center-Sleep Medicine Center, Azienda Socio-Sanitaria Territoriale Santi Paolo e Carlo, San Paolo Hospital, Milan, Italy.,Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Katherine Turner
- Childhood and Adolescence Neuropsychiatry Unit, Epilepsy Center-Sleep Medicine Center, Azienda Socio-Sanitaria Territoriale Santi Paolo e Carlo, San Paolo Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Paola Canevini
- Childhood and Adolescence Neuropsychiatry Unit, Epilepsy Center-Sleep Medicine Center, Azienda Socio-Sanitaria Territoriale Santi Paolo e Carlo, San Paolo Hospital, Milan, Italy.,Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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24
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Castejon AM, Spaw JA, Rozenfeld I, Sheinberg N, Kabot S, Shaw A, Hardigan P, Faillace R, Packer EE. Improving Antioxidant Capacity in Children With Autism: A Randomized, Double-Blind Controlled Study With Cysteine-Rich Whey Protein. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:669089. [PMID: 34658941 PMCID: PMC8514994 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.669089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies indicate that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have lower levels of glutathione. Nutritional interventions aim to increase glutathione levels suggest a positive effect on ASD behaviors, but findings are mixed or non-significant. A commercially available nutritional supplement comprising a cysteine-rich whey protein isolate (CRWP), a potent precursor of glutathione, was previously found to be safe and effective at raising glutathione in several conditions associated with low antioxidant capacity. Therefore, we investigated the effectiveness of a 90-day CRWP intervention in children with ASD and examined whether intracellular reduced and oxidized glutathione improvements correlated with behavioral changes. We enrolled 46 (of 81 screened) 3-5-year-old preschool children with confirmed ASD. Using a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled design, we evaluated the effectiveness of daily CRWP (powder form: 0.5 g/kg for children <20 kg or a 10-g dose for those >20 kg), compared with placebo (rice protein mimicking the protein load in the intervention group), on glutathione levels and ASD behaviors assessed using different behavioral scales such as Childhood Autism Rated Scale, Preschool Language Scale, Social Communication Questionnaire, Childhood Behavioral Checklist and the parent-rated Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale, 2nd edition (VABS-II). Forty children (CRWP, 21; placebo, 19) completed the 90-day treatment period. Improvements observed in some behavioral scales were comparable. However, the VABS-II behavioral assessment, demonstrated significant changes only in children receiving CRWP compared to those observed in the placebo group in the composite score (effect size 0.98; 95% confidence intervals 1.42-4.02; p = 0.03). Further, several VABS-II domain scores such as adaptive behavior (p = 0.03), socialization (p = 0.03), maladaptive behavior (p = 0.04) and internalizing behavior (p = 0.02) also indicated significant changes. Children assigned to the CRWP group showed significant increases in glutathione levels (p = 0.04) compared to those in the placebo group. A subanalysis of the VABS-II scale results comparing responders (>1 SD change from baseline to follow up) and non-responders in the CRWP group identified older age and higher levels of total and reduced glutathione as factors associated with a response. CRWP nutritional intervention in children with ASD significantly improved both glutathione levels and some behaviors associated with ASD. Further studies are needed to confirm these results. Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT01366859, identifier: NCT01366859.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Maria Castejon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
| | - Jordan Ashley Spaw
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
| | - Irina Rozenfeld
- Center for Collaborative Research, Institute for Neuro Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
| | - Nurit Sheinberg
- Mailman Segal Center, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
| | - Susan Kabot
- Mailman Segal Center, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
| | - Alexander Shaw
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
| | - Patrick Hardigan
- Statistical Consulting Center, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
| | - Rogerio Faillace
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
| | - Edward E Packer
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
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25
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Borna NN, Kishita Y, Abe J, Furukawa T, Ogawa-Tominaga M, Fushimi T, Imai-Okazaki A, Takeda A, Ohtake A, Murayama K, Okazaki Y. NAD(P)HX dehydratase protein-truncating mutations are associated with neurodevelopmental disorder exacerbated by acute illness. Brain 2020; 143:e54. [PMID: 32462209 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awaa130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nurun Nahar Borna
- Diagnostics and Therapeutics of Intractable Diseases, Intractable Disease Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Yoshihito Kishita
- Diagnostics and Therapeutics of Intractable Diseases, Intractable Disease Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Jiro Abe
- Department of Paediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita-Ku, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan
| | - Takuro Furukawa
- Department of Paediatrics, Asahikawa City Hospital, Asahikawa, Sapporo 078-8510, Japan
| | - Minako Ogawa-Tominaga
- Department of Metabolism, Chiba Children's Hospital, Midori-ku, Chiba 266-0007, Japan
| | - Takuya Fushimi
- Department of Metabolism, Chiba Children's Hospital, Midori-ku, Chiba 266-0007, Japan
| | - Atsuko Imai-Okazaki
- Diagnostics and Therapeutics of Intractable Diseases, Intractable Disease Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan.,Medical Genomics Center: National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 162-8655, Japan
| | - Atsuhito Takeda
- Department of Paediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita-Ku, Sapporo 060-8648, Japan
| | - Akira Ohtake
- Department of Paediatrics and Clinical Genomics, Faculty of Medicine, Saitama Medical University, Moroyama, Saitama 350-0495, Japan.,Center for Intractable Diseases, Saitama Medical University Hospital, Moroyama, Saitama 350-0495, Japan
| | - Kei Murayama
- Department of Metabolism, Chiba Children's Hospital, Midori-ku, Chiba 266-0007, Japan
| | - Yasushi Okazaki
- Diagnostics and Therapeutics of Intractable Diseases, Intractable Disease Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan.,Laboratory for Comprehensive Genomic Analysis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
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26
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Gonçalves CL, Vasconcelos FFP, Wessler LB, Lemos IS, Candiotto G, Lin J, Matias MBD, Rico EP, Streck EL. Exposure to a high dose of amoxicillin causes behavioral changes and oxidative stress in young zebrafish. Metab Brain Dis 2020; 35:1407-1416. [PMID: 32876824 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-020-00610-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of early-onset neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impaired social and communication skills. Autism is widely described as a behavioral syndrome with multiple etiologies where may exhibit neurobiological, genetic, and psychological deficits. Studies have indicated that long term use of antibiotics can alter the intestinal flora followed by neuroendocrine changes, leading to behavioral changes. Indeed, previous studies demonstrate that a high dose of amoxicillin can change behavioral parameters in murine animal models. The objective was to evaluate behavioral and oxidative stress parameters in zebrafish exposed to a high dose of amoxicillin for 7 days. Young zebrafish were exposed to a daily concentration of amoxicillin (100 mg/L) for 7 days. Subsequently, the behavioral analysis was performed, and the brain content was dissected for the evaluation of oxidative stress parameters. Zebrafish exposed to a high dose of amoxicillin showed locomotor alteration and decreased social interaction behavior. In addition, besides the significant decrease of sulfhydryl content, there was a marked decrease in catalase activity, as well as an increased superoxide dismutase activity in brain tissue. Thus, through the zebrafish model was possible to note a central effect related to the exposition of amoxicillin, the same as observed in murine models. Further, the present data reinforce the relation of the gut-brain-axis and the use of zebrafish as a useful tool to investigate new therapies for autistic traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinara L Gonçalves
- Laboratório de Neurologia Experimental, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, 88806-000, Brazil
| | - Francine F P Vasconcelos
- Laboratório de Neurologia Experimental, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, 88806-000, Brazil
| | - Leticia B Wessler
- Laboratório de Neurologia Experimental, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, 88806-000, Brazil
| | - Isabela S Lemos
- Laboratório de Neurologia Experimental, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, 88806-000, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Candiotto
- Laboratório de Neurologia Experimental, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, 88806-000, Brazil
| | - Jaime Lin
- Laboratório de Neurologia Experimental, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, 88806-000, Brazil
| | - Mariane B D Matias
- Laboratório de Neurologia Experimental, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, 88806-000, Brazil
| | - Eduardo P Rico
- Laboratório de Neurologia Experimental, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, 88806-000, Brazil
| | - Emilio L Streck
- Laboratório de Neurologia Experimental, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, 88806-000, Brazil.
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27
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Bjørklund G, Tinkov AA, Hosnedlová B, Kizek R, Ajsuvakova OP, Chirumbolo S, Skalnaya MG, Peana M, Dadar M, El-Ansary A, Qasem H, Adams JB, Aaseth J, Skalny AV. The role of glutathione redox imbalance in autism spectrum disorder: A review. Free Radic Biol Med 2020; 160:149-162. [PMID: 32745763 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The role of glutathione in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is emerging as a major topic, due to its role in the maintenance of the intracellular redox balance. Several studies have implicated glutathione redox imbalance as a leading factor in ASD, and both ASD and many other neurodevelopmental disorders involve low levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), high levels of oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and abnormalities in the expressions of glutathione-related enzymes in the blood or brain. Glutathione metabolism, through its impact on redox environment or redox-independent mechanisms, interferes with multiple mechanisms involved in ASD pathogenesis. Glutathione-mediated regulation of glutamate receptors [e.g., N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor], as well as the role of glutamate as a substrate for glutathione synthesis, may be involved in the regulation of glutamate excitotoxicity. However, the interaction between glutathione and glutamate in the pathogenesis of brain diseases may vary from synergism to antagonism. Modulation of glutathione is also associated with regulation of redox-sensitive transcription factors nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and activator protein 1 (AP-1) and downstream signaling (proinflammatory cytokines and inducible enzymes), thus providing a significant impact on neuroinflammation. Mitochondrial dysfunction, as well as neuronal apoptosis, may also provide a significant link between glutathione metabolism and ASD. Furthermore, it has been recently highlighted that glutathione can affect and modulate DNA methylation and epigenetics. Review analysis including research studies meeting the required criteria for analysis showed statistically significant differences between the plasma GSH and GSSG levels as well as GSH:GSSG ratio in autistic patients compared with healthy individuals (P = 0.0145, P = 0.0150 and P = 0.0202, respectively). Therefore, the existing data provide a strong background on the role of the glutathione system in ASD pathogenesis. Future research is necessary to investigate the role of glutathione redox signaling in ASD, which could potentially also lead to promising therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geir Bjørklund
- Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (CONEM), Mo I Rana, Norway.
| | - Alexey A Tinkov
- IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia; Yaroslavl State University, Yaroslavl, Russia; Federal Research Centre of Biological Systems, Agro-technologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Orenburg, Russia
| | - Božena Hosnedlová
- Department of Human Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic; CONEM Metallomics Nanomedicine Research Group (CMNRG), Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Rene Kizek
- Department of Human Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic; CONEM Metallomics Nanomedicine Research Group (CMNRG), Brno, Czech Republic; Faculty of Pharmacy with Division of Laboratory Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Olga P Ajsuvakova
- IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia; Yaroslavl State University, Yaroslavl, Russia; Federal Research Centre of Biological Systems, Agro-technologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Orenburg, Russia
| | - Salvatore Chirumbolo
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy; CONEM Scientific Secretary, Verona, Italy
| | - Margarita G Skalnaya
- IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia; Federal Research Centre of Biological Systems, Agro-technologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Orenburg, Russia
| | | | - Maryam Dadar
- Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
| | - Afaf El-Ansary
- Medicinal Chemistry Department, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Autism Research and Treatment Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; CONEM Saudi Autism Research Group, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hanan Qasem
- Autism Research and Treatment Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; CONEM Saudi Autism Research Group, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - James B Adams
- School for Engineering of Matter, Transport, and Energy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Jan Aaseth
- Research Department, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Brumunddal, Norway
| | - Anatoly V Skalny
- IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia; Federal Research Centre of Biological Systems, Agro-technologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Orenburg, Russia
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28
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Rahi S, Mehan S. Understanding Abnormal SMO-SHH Signaling in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Potential Drug Target and Therapeutic Goals. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2020; 42:931-953. [PMID: 33206287 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-020-01010-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Autism is a multifactorial neurodevelopmental condition; it demonstrates some main characteristics, such as impaired social relationships and increased repetitive behavior. The initiation of autism spectrum disorder is mostly triggered during brain development by the deregulation of signaling pathways. Sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling is one such mechanism that influences neurogenesis and neural processes during the development of the central nervous system. SMO-SHH signaling is also an important part of a broad variety of neurological processes, including neuronal cell differentiation, proliferation, and survival. Dysregulation of SMO-SHH signaling leads to many physiological changes that lead to neurological disorders such as ASD and contribute to cognitive decline. The aberrant downregulation of SMO-SHH signals contributes to the proteolytic cleavage of GLI (glioma-associated homolog) into GLI3 (repressor), which increases oxidative stress, neuronal excitotoxicity, neuroinflammation, and apoptosis by suppressing target gene expression. We outlined in this review that SMO-SHH deregulation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of autism and addresses the current status of SMO-SHH pathway modulators. Additionally, a greater understanding of the SHH signaling pathway is an effort to improve successful treatment for autism and other neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saloni Rahi
- Neuropharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, 142001, Punjab, India
| | - Sidharth Mehan
- Neuropharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, 142001, Punjab, India.
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29
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Olesova D, Galba J, Piestansky J, Celusakova H, Repiska G, Babinska K, Ostatnikova D, Katina S, Kovac A. A Novel UHPLC-MS Method Targeting Urinary Metabolomic Markers for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Metabolites 2020; 10:metabo10110443. [PMID: 33147863 PMCID: PMC7693535 DOI: 10.3390/metabo10110443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disease. Currently, no biomarker of this disease is known. Diagnosis is performed through observation, standardized behavioral scales, and interviews with parents. In practice, diagnosis is often delayed to the average age of four years or even more which adversely affects a child’s perspective. A laboratory method allowing to detect the disorder at earlier stages is of a great need, as this could help the patients to start with treatment at a younger age, even prior to the clinical diagnosis. Recent evidence indicates that metabolomic markers should be considered as diagnostic markers, also serving for further differentiation and characterization of different subgroups of the autism spectrum. In this study, we developed an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous determination of six metabolites in human urine. These metabolites, namely methylguanidine, N-acetyl arginine, inosine, indole-3-acetic acid, indoxyl sulfate and xanthurenic acid were selected as potential biomarkers according to prior metabolomic studies. The analysis was carried out by means of reversed-phase liquid chromatography with gradient elution. Separation of the metabolites was performed on a Phenomenex Luna® Omega Polar C18 (100 × 1.0 mm, 1.6 µm) column at a flow rate of 0.15 mL/min with acetonitrile/water 0.1% formic acid aqueous as the mobile phase. The analysis was performed on a group of children with autism spectrum disorder and age-matched controls. In school children, we have detected disturbances in the levels of oxidative stress markers connected to arginine and purine metabolism, namely methylguanidine and N-acetylargine. Also, products of gut bacteria metabolism, namely indoxyl sulfate and indole-3-acetic acid, were found to be elevated in the patients’ group. We can conclude that this newly developed method is fast, sensitive, reliable, and well suited for the quantification of proposed markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominika Olesova
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 84510 Bratislava, Slovakia;
| | - Jaroslav Galba
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis and Nuclear Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University in Bratislava, Odbojarov 10, 832 32 Bratislava, Slovakia; (J.G.); (J.P.)
| | - Juraj Piestansky
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis and Nuclear Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University in Bratislava, Odbojarov 10, 832 32 Bratislava, Slovakia; (J.G.); (J.P.)
| | - Hana Celusakova
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Sasinkova 2, 813 72 Bratislava, Slovakia; (H.C.); (G.R.); (K.B.); (D.O.)
| | - Gabriela Repiska
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Sasinkova 2, 813 72 Bratislava, Slovakia; (H.C.); (G.R.); (K.B.); (D.O.)
| | - Katarina Babinska
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Sasinkova 2, 813 72 Bratislava, Slovakia; (H.C.); (G.R.); (K.B.); (D.O.)
| | - Daniela Ostatnikova
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Sasinkova 2, 813 72 Bratislava, Slovakia; (H.C.); (G.R.); (K.B.); (D.O.)
| | - Stanislav Katina
- Institute of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 267/2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic;
| | - Andrej Kovac
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 84510 Bratislava, Slovakia;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +421-2-54788100
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Kurek M, Borowska B, Lubowiedzka-Gontarek B, Rosset I, Żądzińska E. Disturbances in primary dental enamel in Polish autistic children. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12751. [PMID: 32728144 PMCID: PMC7391627 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69642-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Dental enamel is a structure that is formed as a result of the regular functioning of ameloblasts. The knowledge of the patterns of enamel secretion allows an analysis of their disruptions manifested in pronounced additional accentuated lines. These lines represent a physiological response to stress experienced during enamel development. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of accentuated lines in the tooth enamel of autistic boys. The width of the neonatal line and the periodicity of the striae of Retzius were also assessed. The study material consisted of longitudinal ground sections of 56 primary teeth (incisors and molars): 22 teeth from autistic children and 34 teeth from the control group. The Mann-Whitney U test indicates that the accentuated lines were found significantly more often in autistic children (Z = 3.03; p = 0.002). No differentiation in the rate of enamel formation and in the rate of regaining homeostasis after childbirth were found. The obtained results may indicate a higher sensitivity of autistic children to stress factors, manifested in more frequent disturbances in the functioning of ameloblasts or may be a reflection of differences in the occurrence of stress factors in the first years of life in both analyzed groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Kurek
- Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Łódź, Banacha 12/16, 90-237, Łódź, Poland.
| | - Beata Borowska
- Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Łódź, Banacha 12/16, 90-237, Łódź, Poland
| | | | - Iwona Rosset
- Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Łódź, Banacha 12/16, 90-237, Łódź, Poland
| | - Elżbieta Żądzińska
- Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Łódź, Banacha 12/16, 90-237, Łódź, Poland
- Visiting Research Fellow in the School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia
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McGuinness G, Kim Y. Sulforaphane treatment for autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review. EXCLI JOURNAL 2020; 19:892-903. [PMID: 33013262 PMCID: PMC7527484 DOI: 10.17179/excli2020-2487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is defined as a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social communication impairment, delayed development, social function deficit, and repetitive behaviors. The Center for Disease Control reports an increase in ASD diagnosis rates every year. This systematic review evaluated the use of sulforaphane (SFN) therapy as a potential treatment option for individuals with ASD. PubMed.gov, PubMed Central, Natural Medicines, BoardVitals, Google Scholar and Medline were searched for studies measuring the effects of SFN on behavior and cognitive function. All five clinical trials included in this systematic review showed a significant positive correlation between SFN use and ASD behavior and cognitive function. The current evidence shows with minimal side effects observed, SFN appears to be a safe and effective treatment option for treating ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greer McGuinness
- Central Michigan University, 207 Wightman Hall, 1202 S. Washington Street, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, U S A
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Kardani A, Soltani A, Sewell RDE, Shahrani M, Rafieian-Kopaei M. Neurotransmitter, Antioxidant and Anti-neuroinflammatory Mechanistic Potentials of Herbal Medicines in Ameliorating Autism Spectrum Disorder. Curr Pharm Des 2020; 25:4421-4429. [PMID: 31721693 DOI: 10.2174/1381612825666191112143940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental issue that disrupts behavior, nonverbal communication, and social interaction, impacting all aspects of an individual's social development. The underlying origin of autism is unclear, however, oxidative stress, as well as serotonergic, adrenergic and dopaminergic systems are thought to be implicated in ASD. Despite the fact that there is no effective medication for autism, current pharmacological treatments are utilized to ameliorate some of the symptoms such as selfmutilation, aggression, repetitive and stereotyped behaviors, inattention, hyperactivity, and sleep disorders. METHODS In accord with the literature regarding the activity of herbal medicines on neurotransmitter function, we aimed to review the most worthy medicinal herbs possessing neuroprotective effects. RESULTS Based on the outcome, medicinal herbs such as Zingiber officinale, Astragalus membranaceu, Ginkgo biloba, Centella asiatica and Acorus calamus, have antioxidant activity, which can influence neurotransmitter systems and are potentially neuroprotective. CONCLUSION Consequently, these herbs, in theory at least, appear to be suitable candidates within an overall management strategy for those on the autism spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arefeh Kardani
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Amin Soltani
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Robert D E Sewell
- Cardiff School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3NB. Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Mehrdad Shahrani
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Mahmoud Rafieian-Kopaei
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
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Bjørklund G, Meguid NA, El-Bana MA, Tinkov AA, Saad K, Dadar M, Hemimi M, Skalny AV, Hosnedlová B, Kizek R, Osredkar J, Urbina MA, Fabjan T, El-Houfey AA, Kałużna-Czaplińska J, Gątarek P, Chirumbolo S. Oxidative Stress in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Mol Neurobiol 2020; 57:2314-2332. [PMID: 32026227 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-019-01742-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of July 11, 2016, the reported average incidence of children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was 1 in 68 (1.46%) among 8-year-old children born in 2004 and living within the 11 monitoring sites' surveillance areas in the United States of America (USA) in 2012. ASD is a multifaceted neurodevelopmental disorder that is also considered a hidden disability, as, for the most part; there are no apparent morphological differences between children with ASD and typically developing children. ASD is diagnosed based upon a triad of features including impairment in socialization, impairment in language, and repetitive and stereotypic behaviors. The increasing incidence of ASD in the pediatric population and the lack of successful curative therapies make ASD one of the most challenging disorders for medicine. ASD neurobiology is thought to be associated with oxidative stress, as shown by increased levels of reactive oxygen species and increased lipid peroxidation, as well as an increase in other indicators of oxidative stress. Children with ASD diagnosis are considered more vulnerable to oxidative stress because of their imbalance in intracellular and extracellular glutathione levels and decreased glutathione reserve capacity. Several studies have suggested that the redox imbalance and oxidative stress are integral parts of ASD pathophysiology. As such, early assessment and treatment of antioxidant status may result in a better prognosis as it could decrease the oxidative stress in the brain before it can induce more irreversible brain damage. In this review, many aspects of the role of oxidative stress in ASD are discussed, taking into account that the process of oxidative stress may be a target for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geir Bjørklund
- Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (CONEM), Toften 24, 8610, Mo i Rana, Norway.
| | - Nagwa A Meguid
- Research on Children with Special Needs Department, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt
- CONEM Egypt Child Brain Research Group, National Research Center, Giza, Egypt
| | - Mona A El-Bana
- CONEM Egypt Child Brain Research Group, National Research Center, Giza, Egypt
- Medical Biochemistry Department, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt
| | - Alexey A Tinkov
- Yaroslavl State University, Yaroslavl, Russia
- Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Moscow, Russia
- IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Khaled Saad
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
- CONEM Upper Egypt Pediatric Research Group, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Maryam Dadar
- Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
| | - Maha Hemimi
- Research on Children with Special Needs Department, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt
- CONEM Egypt Child Brain Research Group, National Research Center, Giza, Egypt
| | - Anatoly V Skalny
- Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Moscow, Russia
- IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
- Federal Research Centre of Biological Systems and Agro-technologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Orenburg, Russia
- Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Božena Hosnedlová
- CONEM Metallomics Nanomedicine Research Group (CMNRG), Brno, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Human Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Rene Kizek
- CONEM Metallomics Nanomedicine Research Group (CMNRG), Brno, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Human Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Joško Osredkar
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry (KIKKB), Ljubljana University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Mauricio A Urbina
- Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Teja Fabjan
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry (KIKKB), Ljubljana University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Amira A El-Houfey
- CONEM Upper Egypt Pediatric Research Group, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
- Department of Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
- Department of Community Health Nursing, Sabia University College, Jazan University, Jizan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Joanna Kałużna-Czaplińska
- Institute of General and Ecological Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
- CONEM Poland Chemistry and Nutrition Research Group, Lodz University of Technology, Lodz, Poland
| | - Paulina Gątarek
- Institute of General and Ecological Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
- CONEM Poland Chemistry and Nutrition Research Group, Lodz University of Technology, Lodz, Poland
| | - Salvatore Chirumbolo
- Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- CONEM Scientific Secretary, Verona, Italy
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Liu JD, Liu WB, Zhang CY, Xu CY, Zheng XC, Zhang DD, Chi C. Dietary glutathione supplementation enhances antioxidant activity and protects against lipopolysaccharide-induced acute hepatopancreatic injury and cell apoptosis in Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 97:440-454. [PMID: 31857224 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2019.12.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Revised: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Eriocheir sinensis (E. sinensis) is an important aquaculture species in China. However, deteriorating water environments lead to oxidative stress in these crabs, which subsequently reduces their quality and yield. Glutathione (GSH) is an endogenous antioxidant that is used to mitigate oxidative stress. However, whether dietary GSH can enhance the resistance of E. sinensis to oxidative stress remains unclear. Herein, crabs were fed dietary GSH (the basal diet was supplemented with 0, 300, 600, 900, and 1200 mg/kg diet weight of GSH) for up to 3 weeks and, then, challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 400 μg/kg body weight). After 6 h, their hepatopancreas were sampled. Diet supplementation with 600 and 900 mg/kg diet weight GSH not only increased the content of GSH in the hepatopancreas, but also enhanced the activities and mRNA expressions of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) (P < 0.05), compared to that in control crabs challenged with LPS alone. Diet supplementation with 600 or 900 mg/kg GSH also significantly increased the enzyme activities of GSH reductase and γ-glutamyl cysteine synthetase (γ-GCS) in LPS-treated crabs. Haematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, electron microscopy, and flow cytometry were used to examine the structure and subcellular structure of and apoptosis in the hepatopancreas. The histopathology and sub-microstructure analysis results also showed that diet supplementation with 600 or 900 mg/kg GSH significantly alleviated damage in crabs challenged with LPS and decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and cell apoptosis ratios in the hepatopancreas, compared to the LPS-treated crabs. To further understand the effect of dietary GSH on LPS-induced apoptosis, the activities and gene or protein expressions of apoptosis-related factors were evaluated. As a result, diet supplementation with 600 or 900 mg/kg GSH significantly decreased the activities of caspases-3, -8, and -9 and inhibited the relative expression of caspase-3 and -8 but increased the expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 (bcl-2) and B-cell lymphoma-2-associated X inhibitor (bax inhibitor) in crabs challenged with LPS. This treatment further significantly downregulated the relative protein levels of caspase-3, -8, -9 and Bax and upregulated those of Bcl-2 in crabs challenged with LPS. However, treatment with 1200 mg/kg GSH caused the opposite effects. Overall, our results reveal that appropriate diets supplemented with 600 or 900 mg/kg GSH could enhance the antioxidant capacity and anti-apoptotic mechanisms in crabs after LPS injection, thereby providing a theoretical basis for the application of dietary GSH in E. sinensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Dai Liu
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Nutrition and Feed Science of Jiangsu Province, National Experimental Teaching Center for Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang Road, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Wen-Bin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Nutrition and Feed Science of Jiangsu Province, National Experimental Teaching Center for Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang Road, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Cai-Yan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Nutrition and Feed Science of Jiangsu Province, National Experimental Teaching Center for Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang Road, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Chen-Yuan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Nutrition and Feed Science of Jiangsu Province, National Experimental Teaching Center for Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang Road, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Chuan Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Nutrition and Feed Science of Jiangsu Province, National Experimental Teaching Center for Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang Road, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Ding-Dong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Nutrition and Feed Science of Jiangsu Province, National Experimental Teaching Center for Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang Road, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Cheng Chi
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Nutrition and Feed Science of Jiangsu Province, National Experimental Teaching Center for Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang Road, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China.
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Faber S, Fahrenholz T, Wolle MM, Kern JC, Pamuku M, Miller L, Jamrom J, Skip Kingston HM. Chronic exposure to xenobiotic pollution leads to significantly higher total glutathione and lower reduced to oxidized glutathione ratio in red blood cells of children with autism. Free Radic Biol Med 2019; 134:666-677. [PMID: 30763613 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2019.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 02/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Analyses of reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and total glutathione (tGSH) in red blood cell samples from 30 children diagnosed with autism and 30 age, gender, and socioeconomic status matched controls were undertaken. The children's ages ranged from 2 to 9. Samples were obtained from subjects residing in Western Pennsylvania, an area of the United States greatly affected by high levels of mercury deposition and airborne PM 2.5 particulates. Liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry was utilized by following EPA Method 6800 for sample analyses. The children with autism had a significantly lower mean red blood cell (RBC) reduced to oxidized glutathione ratio (GSH/GSSG) compared to the control children (p = 0.025). In addition, compared to the controls, the children with autism had significantly higher RBC tGSH values (p = 0.0076) and GSH values (p = 0.022). These results suggest that exposure to toxic elements may prompt compensatory increases in production of GSH in children with autism in environments higher in toxins. The compensation did not fully correct the anti-oxidant properties of exposure to xenobiotics as demonstrated by the significantly lower GSH/GSSG in children with autism compared to controls. Out of a set of glutathione biomarkers, GSH/GSSG may best determine the degree of compensation for oxidative stress in children with autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Faber
- The Children's Institute, 1405 Shady Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15217, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15282, USA.
| | | | - Mesay Mulugeta Wolle
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15282, USA.
| | - John C Kern
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15282, USA.
| | - Matt Pamuku
- Applied Isotope Technologies, 2403 Sidney Street, Suite 280, Pittsburgh, PA, 15203, USA.
| | - Logan Miller
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15282, USA.
| | - Jeremiah Jamrom
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15282, USA.
| | - H M Skip Kingston
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15282, USA.
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Zhang RY, Qiao ZY, Liu HJ, Ma JW. Sonic hedgehog signaling regulates hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced H9C2 myocardial cell apoptosis. Exp Ther Med 2018; 16:4193-4200. [PMID: 30344694 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2018.6678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 06/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway has been reported to protect cells against hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury; however, the role of Shh and relevant molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, the rat cardiomyoblast cell line H9C2 was subjected to hypoxia and serum-starvation for 4 h. Cells were subsequently reoxygenated using 95% O2 and 5% CO2. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to quantify the expression of Shh mRNA, while cell apoptosis was assessed using flow cytometry. Caspase-3 activity and p53 expression were measured by western blotting and an MTT assay was subsequently used to assess cell viability. In addition, reactive oxygen species levels were measured using dichlorofluorescein and H/R-induced changes in the activation of superoxide dismutase, catalase, phosphorylated-endothelial nitric oxide synthase, phosphorylated-protein kinase B (Akt) and mammalian target of rapamycin activation were assessed using western blotting. H/R treatment decreased the cell viability of H9C2 cells, but activated endogenous Shh signaling. The activation of Shh signaling protected H9C2 myocardial cells from H/R-induced apoptosis and restored cell viability. In the present study, Shh signaling was demonstrated to serve a protective role against H/R by activating the phosphoinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway and promoting the expression of anti-oxidant enzymes to ameliorate oxidative stress. In summary, Shh signaling attenuated H/R-induced apoptosis through via the PI3K/Akt pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui-Ying Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Fengxian District Central Hospital, Shanghai 201400, P.R. China
| | - Zeng-Yong Qiao
- Department of Cardiology, Fengxian District Central Hospital, Shanghai 201400, P.R. China
| | - Hua-Jin Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Fengxian District Central Hospital, Shanghai 201400, P.R. China
| | - Jiang-Wei Ma
- Department of Cardiology, Fengxian District Central Hospital, Shanghai 201400, P.R. China
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Eshraghi RS, Deth RC, Mittal R, Aranke M, Kay SIS, Moshiree B, Eshraghi AA. Early Disruption of the Microbiome Leading to Decreased Antioxidant Capacity and Epigenetic Changes: Implications for the Rise in Autism. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:256. [PMID: 30158857 PMCID: PMC6104136 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, 1 out of every 59 children in the United States is diagnosed with autism. While initial research to find the possible causes for autism were mostly focused on the genome, more recent studies indicate a significant role for epigenetic regulation of gene expression and the microbiome. In this review article, we examine the connections between early disruption of the developing microbiome and gastrointestinal tract function, with particular regard to susceptibility to autism. The biological mechanisms that accompany individuals with autism are reviewed in this manuscript including immune system dysregulation, inflammation, oxidative stress, metabolic and methylation abnormalities as well as gastrointestinal distress. We propose that these autism-associated biological mechanisms may be caused and/or sustained by dysbiosis, an alteration to the composition of resident commensal communities relative to the community found in healthy individuals and its redox and epigenetic consequences, changes that in part can be due to early use and over-use of antibiotics across generations. Further studies are warranted to clarify the contribution of oxidative stress and gut microbiome in the pathophysiology of autism. A better understanding of the microbiome and gastrointestinal tract in relation to autism will provide promising new opportunities to develop novel treatment modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca S. Eshraghi
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Richard C. Deth
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
| | - Rahul Mittal
- Department of Otolaryngology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Mayank Aranke
- Department of Otolaryngology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Sae-In S. Kay
- Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
| | - Baharak Moshiree
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Adrien A. Eshraghi
- Department of Otolaryngology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
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Coenzyme Q 10 supplementation reduces oxidative stress and decreases antioxidant enzyme activity in children with autism spectrum disorders. Psychiatry Res 2018; 265:62-69. [PMID: 29684771 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.03.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Revised: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Antioxidants and oxidative stress can participate in pathobiochemical mechanisms of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). The aim was to identify the effects of early CoQ10 supplementation on oxidative stress in children with ASDs. Ninety children with ASDs were included in this study, based on DSM-IV criteria and using Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) scores. Concentrations of CoQ10, MDA, total antioxidant status (TAS) assay, and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase or SOD and glutathione peroxidase or GPx) activity were determined in serum before and after 100 days of supportive therapy with CoQ10 at daily doses of 30 and 60 mg. Data on children's behavior were collected from parents and babysitters. CoQ10 supportive therapy was determined after three months with daily dose 2 ͯ 30 mg improved oxidative stress in the children with ASDs. A relation was seen between serum MDA (r2 = 0.668) and TAS (r2 = 0.007), and antioxidant enzymes (SOD [r2 = 0.01] and GPx [r2 = 0.001]) activity and CARS score. Based on the results, high doses of CoQ10 can improve gastrointestinal problems (P = 0.004) and sleep disorders (P = 0.005) in children with ASDs with an increase in the CoQ10 of the serum. We concluded that the serum concentration of CoQ10 and oxidative stress could be used as relevant biomarkers in helping the improvement of ASDs.
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Polystyrene nanofibers capped with copper nanoparticles for selective extraction of glutathione prior to its determination by HPLC. Mikrochim Acta 2018; 185:321. [DOI: 10.1007/s00604-018-2845-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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40
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El-Ansary A, Cannell JJ, Bjørklund G, Bhat RS, Al Dbass AM, Alfawaz HA, Chirumbolo S, Al-Ayadhi L. In the search for reliable biomarkers for the early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder: the role of vitamin D. Metab Brain Dis 2018; 33:917-931. [PMID: 29497932 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-018-0199-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2017] [Accepted: 02/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects about 1% of the world's population. Vitamin D is thought to be essential for normal brain development and modulation of the immune system. Worldwide about 1 billion people are affected by vitamin D deficiency. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) are biomarkers related to inflammation and oxidative stress. In the present study, these biomarkers were together with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D3) analyzed in 28 (mean age seven years) Saudi male patients with ASD. The study was conducted to determine if there is any relationship between vitamin D levels, the tested biomarkers and the presence and severity of ASD. The hope was to identify if these biomarkers may be useful for early ASD diagnosis. The Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) were used to measure autism severity. The results of the ASD children were compared with 27 age and gender-matched neurotypical controls. The data indicated that Saudi patients with ASD have significantly lower plasma levels of 25(OH)D3 than neurotypical controls (38 ng/ml compared to 56 ng/ml, respectively; [P = 0.001]). Surprisingly, the levels of CYP2E1 were lower in the children with ASD than the neurotypical controls (0.48 ± 0.08 vs. 69 ± 0.07 ng/ml, respectively; P = 0.001). The ASD children also had significantly higher levels of hs-CRP (0.79 ± 0.09 vs. 0.59 ± 0.09 ng/ml, respectively; P = 0.001) and 8-OH-dG (8.17 ± 1.04 vs. 4.13 ± 1.01 ng/ml, respectively; P = 0.001, compared to neurotypical age and gender-matched controls. The values for hs-CRP and 8-OH-dG did not correlate [P < 0.001] with autism severity. There was found a relationship between autism severity on the CARS scale and the levels of 25(OH)D3 and CYP1B1. But this was not found for SRS. All four biomarkers seemed to have good sensitivity and specificity, but the sample size of the present study was too small to determine clinical usefulness. The findings also indicate that inadequate levels of vitamin D play a role in the etiology and severity of autism. Furthermore, the results of the present study suggest the possibility of using 25(OH)D3, CYP1B1, hs-CRP and 8-OH-dG, preferably in combination, as biomarkers for the early diagnosis of ASD. However, further research is needed to evaluate this hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afaf El-Ansary
- Central Laboratory, Female Centre for Scientific and Medical Studies, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Medicinal Chemistry Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
- Autism Research and Treatment Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Shaik AL-Amodi Autism Research Chair, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Geir Bjørklund
- Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, Toften 24, 8610, Mo i Rana, Norway.
| | - Ramesa Shafi Bhat
- Biochemistry Department, Science College, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abeer M Al Dbass
- Biochemistry Department, Science College, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hanan A Alfawaz
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Salvatore Chirumbolo
- Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Laila Al-Ayadhi
- Autism Research and Treatment Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Shaik AL-Amodi Autism Research Chair, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Altamimi M. Could Autism Be Associated With Nutritional Status in the Palestinian population? The Outcomes of the Palestinian Micronutrient Survey. Nutr Metab Insights 2018; 11:1178638818773078. [PMID: 29773950 PMCID: PMC5952272 DOI: 10.1177/1178638818773078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2017] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder. It is believed that the cause of autism is multifactorial, where genetic predispositions interact with environmental factors. In this context, micronutrients play a crucial role. OBJECTIVE To present evidence on current micronutrient status in Palestine and highlight its possible role in increasing problems of neurodevelopment disorders in general and autism in particular. METHOD Analytical review of results. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS The Palestinian Micronutrient Survey was conducted to assess micronutrient status in most vulnerable groups and also micronutrient deficiencies. The data from Palestinian population showed severe anaemia due to iron, Zn, B12, and folic acid deficiencies. One in every 3 Palestinian pregnant women is anaemic. Moreover, 78.2% and 87.1% of lactating mothers from the West Bank and Gaza Strip are Zn deficient. For children from 6 to 59 months old, 1 in every 4 boys and 1 in every 5 girls are considered anaemic. Similar trend was found with respect to vitamins E, D, A, and folic acid. We reviewed the literature that linked micronutrient deficiencies to neurodevelopmental disorders and expected the number of neurodevelopmental disorder cases, including autism, to increase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Altamimi
- Department of Nutrition and Food technology, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
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Frandsen JR, Narayanasamy P. Neuroprotection through flavonoid: Enhancement of the glyoxalase pathway. Redox Biol 2018; 14:465-473. [PMID: 29080525 PMCID: PMC5680520 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2017.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2017] [Revised: 10/11/2017] [Accepted: 10/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The glyoxalase pathway functions to detoxify reactive dicarbonyl compounds, most importantly methylglyoxal. The glyoxalase pathway is an antioxidant defense mechanism that is essential for neuroprotection. Excessive concentrations of methylglyoxal have deleterious effects on cells, leading to increased levels of inflammation and oxidative stress. Neurodegenerative diseases - including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Aging and Autism Spectrum Disorder - are often induced or exacerbated by accumulation of methylglyoxal. Antioxidant compounds possess several distinct mechanisms that enhance the glyoxalase pathway and function as neuroprotectants. Flavonoids are well-researched secondary plant metabolites that appear to be effective in reducing levels of oxidative stress and inflammation in neural cells. Novel flavonoids could be designed, synthesized and tested to protect against neurodegenerative diseases through regulating the glyoxalase pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel R Frandsen
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5900, USA
| | - Prabagaran Narayanasamy
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5900, USA.
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Namvarpour Z, Nasehi M, Amini A, Zarrindast MR. Protective role of alpha-lipoic acid in impairments of social and stereotyped behaviors induced by early postnatal administration of thimerosal in male rat. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2018; 67:1-9. [PMID: 29481853 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2018.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Revised: 02/20/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Aim Thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative has been widely used in a number of biological and drug products, including many vaccines, and has been studied as a possible etiological factor for some neurodevelopmental disabilities. Here, the protective effects of Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA), an organosulfur compound derived from Octanoic Acid, on Thimerosal-induced behavioral abnormalities in rat were examined. METHODS 108 male Wistar rats were divided into three cohorts and treated as follows: 1) Thimerosal at different doses (30, 300, or 3000 μg Hg/kg) in four i.m. injections on 7, 9, 11, 15postnatal days. 2) ALA (at doses of 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg), following the same order; 3) single dose of Thimerosal (3000 μg Hg/kg) plus ALA at different doses (5, 10 or 20 mg/kg), by the previously described method. A saline treated control group and a ALA vehicle control (0.1% NaOH) were also included. At 5 and 8 weeks after birth, rats were evaluated with behavioral tests, to assess locomotor activity, social interactions and stereotyped behaviors, respectively. RESULTS The data showed that Thimerosal at all doses (30, 300 and 3000 μg Hg/kg) significantly impacted locomotor activity. Thimerosal at doses of 300 and 3000 but not 30 μg Hg/kg impaired social and stereotyped behaviors. In contrast, ALA (at doses of 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg) did not alter behaviors by itself, at doses of 20 mg/kg, it reduced social interaction deficits induced by the highest dose of Thimerosal (3000 μg Hg/kg). Moreover, ALA, at all doses prevented the adverse effects of Thimerosal on stereotyped behaviors. CONCLUSIONS the results of this preclinical study, consistent with previous studies on mice and rats, reveals that neonatal dose-dependent exposure to Thimerosal mimicking the childhood vaccine schedule can induce abnormal social interactions and stereotyped behaviors similar to those observed in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, and, for the first time, revealed that these abnormalities may be ameliorated by ALA. This indicates that ALA may protect against mercurial-induced abnormal behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mohammad Nasehi
- Institute for Cognitive Science Studies (ICSS), Tehran, Iran; Cognitive and Neuroscience Research Center (CNRC), Tehran Medical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Abdollah Amini
- Department of Biology and Anatomy, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad-Reza Zarrindast
- Institute for Cognitive Science Studies (ICSS), Tehran, Iran; Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Hajizadeh-Zaker R, Ghajar A, Mesgarpour B, Afarideh M, Mohammadi MR, Akhondzadeh S. l-Carnosine As an Adjunctive Therapy to Risperidone in Children with Autistic Disorder: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2018; 28:74-81. [PMID: 29027815 DOI: 10.1089/cap.2017.0026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed at investigating the efficacy and tolerability of l-carnosine as an add-on to risperidone in the management of children with autism. METHODS This was a 10-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Seventy drug-free children aged 4-12 years old with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition. (DSM-5) who had an Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Community (ABC-C) scale irritability subscale score of ≥12, entered the study. The patients were randomly assigned to l-carnosine (800 mg/day in 2 divided doses) or placebo in addition to risperidone titrated up to 2 mg/day (based on body weight) for 10 weeks. The children were assessed by using ABC-C at baseline and weeks 5 and 10 post-baseline. The primary outcome measure was the mean change in the ABC-C irritability subscale score, and other subscale scores were defined as secondary outcomes. RESULTS Using the general linear model repeated measures, no significant effect was observed for time × treatment interaction on the irritability subscale scores. However, significant effect was detected on the hyperactivity/noncompliance subscale [F (1.62, 64.96) = 3.53, p-value = 0.044]. No significant improvements were obtained on the lethargy/social withdrawal, stereotypic behavior, and inappropriate speech subscale scores. Significantly greater score reduction in the hyperactivity/noncompliance subscale occurred in the l-carnosine group compared with the placebo group at the end of the trial. Extrapyramidal Symptom Rating Scale Scores and its changes did not differ between the two groups. The frequency of other side effects was not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS Although no significant difference was detected on the irritability subscale scores, l-carnosine add-on can improve hyperactivity/noncompliance subscales of the ABC-C rating scale in patients with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reihaneh Hajizadeh-Zaker
- 1 Psychiatric Research Center, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Ghajar
- 1 Psychiatric Research Center, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran
| | - Bita Mesgarpour
- 2 National Institute for Medical Research Development (NIMAD) , Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohsen Afarideh
- 1 Psychiatric Research Center, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad-Reza Mohammadi
- 1 Psychiatric Research Center, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran
| | - Shahin Akhondzadeh
- 1 Psychiatric Research Center, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran
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Cheon S, Dean M, Chahrour M. The ubiquitin proteasome pathway in neuropsychiatric disorders. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2018; 165:106791. [PMID: 29398581 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2018.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2017] [Revised: 01/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) is a highly conserved pathway that tightly regulates protein turnover in cells. This process is integral to neuronal development, differentiation, and function. Several members of the UPS are disrupted in neuropsychiatric disorders, highlighting the importance of this pathway in brain development and function. In this review, we discuss some of these pathway members, the molecular processes they regulate, and the potential for targeting the UPS in an effort to develop therapeutic strategies in neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solmi Cheon
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Milan Dean
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Maria Chahrour
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Departments of Neuroscience and Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
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46
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Rani V, Gautam S, Rawat JK, Singh M, Devi U, Yadav RK, Roy S, Kaithwas G. Effects of minocycline and doxycycline against terbutaline induced early postnatal autistic changes in albino rats. Physiol Behav 2018; 183:49-56. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.10.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Revised: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
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MÁČOVÁ L, BIČÍKOVÁ M, OSTATNÍKOVÁ D, HILL M, STÁRKA L. Vitamin D, Neurosteroids and Autism. Physiol Res 2017; 66:S333-S340. [DOI: 10.33549/physiolres.933721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Vitamin D had been for a long time investigated for its effects on bone metabolism. Recently has been observed that the incidence of some neurodevelopmental disorders (including autism) increases hand in hand with vitamin D deficiency. Indeed, vitamin D was reported to modulate the biosynthesis of neurotransmitters and neurotrophic factors; moreover, its receptor was found in the central nervous system. Vitamin D deficiency was therefore assessed as a risk factor for autism, however the biological mechanism has not yet been revealed. In our review we focused on potential connections among vitamin D, steroids and autism. Potential mechanisms of vitamin D action are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. MÁČOVÁ
- Institute of Endocrinology, Prague, Czech Republic
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48
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Gogou M, Kolios G. The effect of dietary supplements on clinical aspects of autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review of the literature. Brain Dev 2017; 39:656-664. [PMID: 28438367 DOI: 10.1016/j.braindev.2017.03.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2017] [Revised: 03/27/2017] [Accepted: 03/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder is associated with significant social and financial burden and no definite treatment for this entity has been identified, yet. In recent years there has been an increasing interest in the use of dietary interventions as a complementary therapeutic option for these patients. OBJECTIVE The aim of this systematic review is to provide high evidence level literature data about the effect of dietary supplements on clinical aspects of children with autism. METHODS A comprehensive literature search was conducted using Pubmed as the medical database source. Randomized controlled trials conducted in pediatric populations and including measures of clinical outcomes were considered. RESULTS A total of 17 eligible prospective studies were selected. Types of dietary supplements evaluated in these studies included amino acids, fatty acids and vitamins/minerals. N-acetylcysteine was shown to exert a beneficial effect on symptoms of irritability. On the other hand, literature data about the efficacy of d-cycloserine and pyridoxine-magnesium supplements was controversial. No significant effect was identified for fatty acids, N,N-dimethylglycine and inositol. Literature data about ascorbic acid and methyl B12 was few, although some encouraging results were found. No serious adverse events were reported in the vast majority of the studies, while the prevalence of adverse reactions was similar between treatment and placebo groups. CONCLUSIONS The use of dietary supplements in children with autism seems to be a safe practice with encouraging data about their clinical efficacy. More studies are needed to further investigate this issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Gogou
- 2nd Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University General Hospital AHEPA, Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - George Kolios
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
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Pavăl D, Rad F, Rusu R, Niculae AŞ, Colosi HA, Dobrescu I, Dronca E. Low Retinal Dehydrogenase 1 (RALDH1) Level in Prepubertal Boys with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Possible Link to Dopamine Dysfunction? CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE 2017; 15:229-236. [PMID: 28783931 PMCID: PMC5565080 DOI: 10.9758/cpn.2017.15.3.229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2016] [Revised: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 09/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Objective Retinal dehydrogenase 1 (RALDH1) is a cytosolic enzyme which acts both as a source of retinoic acid (RA) and as a detoxification enzyme. RALDH1 has key functions in the midbrain dopaminergic system, which influences motivation, cognition, and social behavior. Since dopamine has been increasingly linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), we asked whether RALDH1 could contribute to the autistic phenotype. Therefore, we investigated for the first time the levels of RALDH1 in autistic patients. To further assess the detoxification function of RALDH1, we also explored 4-hydroxynonenal protein adducts (4-HNE PAs) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels. Moreover, considering the effect of testosterone on RALDH1 expression, we measured the second to fourth digit ratio (2D:4D ratio) for both hands, which reflects exposure to prenatal testosterone. Methods Male patients with ASD (n=18; age, 62.9±4.3 months) and healthy controls (n=13; age, 78.1±4.9 months) were examined. Erythrocyte RALDH1, serum 4-HNE PAs and erythrocyte GSH levels were measured using colorimetric assays, and digit lengths were measured using digital calipers. Results We found significantly lower (−42.9%) RALDH1 levels in autistic patients as compared to controls (p=0.032). However, there was no difference in 4-HNE PAs levels (p=0.368), GSH levels (p=0.586), or 2D:4D ratios (p=0.246 in the left hand, p=0.584 in the right hand) between healthy controls and autistic subjects. Conclusion We concluded that a subset of autistic patients had a low RALDH1 level. These results suggest that low RALDH1 levels could contribute to the autistic phenotype by reflecting a dopaminergic dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Pavăl
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Florina Rad
- Alexandru Obregia Psychiatry Hospital, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Răzvan Rusu
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Alexandru-Ştefan Niculae
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Horaţiu Alexandru Colosi
- Department of Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Iuliana Dobrescu
- Alexandru Obregia Psychiatry Hospital, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Eleonora Dronca
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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El-Ansary A, Bjørklund G, Chirumbolo S, Alnakhli OM. Predictive value of selected biomarkers related to metabolism and oxidative stress in children with autism spectrum disorder. Metab Brain Dis 2017; 32:1209-1221. [PMID: 28497358 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-017-0029-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2016] [Accepted: 05/01/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as a neurodevelopmental disorder is characterized by impairments in social interaction, communication, and restricted, repetitive behavior. Several and reproducible studies have suggested that oxidative stress may represent one of the primary etiological mechanism of ASD that can be targeted for therapeutic intervention. In the present study, multiple regression and combined receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were used to search for a relationship between impaired energy and oxidative metabolic pathways in the etiology of ASD and to find the linear combination that maximizes the partial area under a ROC curve for a pre-identified set of markers related to energy metabolism and oxidative stress. Thirty children with ASD and 30 age and gender matched controls were enrolled in the study. Using either spectrophotometric or ELISA-colorimetric assay, levels of lipid peroxides, vitamin E, vitamin C, glutathione (GSH)/glutathione disulfide (GSSG) together with the enzymatic activity of catalase, plasma glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and blood superoxide dismutase (SOD), were measured in peripheral blood samples, as biomarkers related to oxidative stress. Creatine kinase, ectonucleotidases (ADPase and ATPase) Na+/K+ (ATPase), lactate, inorganic phosphate, and levels of adenosine monophosphate (AMP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) together with adenylate energy charge, were also measured as markers of impaired energy metabolism. Statistical analysis using ROC curves, multiple and logistic regression were performed. A remarkable increase in the area under the curve for most of the combined markers, representing both energy impaired metabolism or oxidative stress, was observed by using combined ROC analyses. Moreover, higher specificity and sensitivity of the combined markers were also reported. The present study indicated that the measurement of the predictive value of selected biomarkers related to energy metabolism and oxidative stress in children with ASD using ROC analysis should lead to the better identification of the etiological mechanism of ASD associated with metabolism and diet. Agents with activity against the impaired metabolic pathway associated with ASD including the metabolic defects and involved enzymes hold a promise as a novel therapy for ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afaf El-Ansary
- Central Laboratory, Female Center for Medical Studies and Scientific Section, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Geir Bjørklund
- Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, Mo i Rana, Norway
| | - Salvatore Chirumbolo
- Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Osima M Alnakhli
- Central Laboratory, Female Center for Medical Studies and Scientific Section, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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