Alhowikan AM. Activity-Regulated Cytoskeleton-Associated Protein Dysfunction May Contribute to Memory Disorder and Earlier Detection of Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Med Princ Pract 2016;
25:350-4. [PMID:
26967659 PMCID:
PMC5588424 DOI:
10.1159/000445351]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2015] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To explore a possible role for activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated (Arc/Arg3.1) protein in the clinical identification of children with autism.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
The plasma levels of Arc/Arg3.1 in 62 boys with autism and 32 healthy boys were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) was used to assess the severity of autism as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV). The Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparisons between children with autism and healthy children. The Spearman r correlation coefficient (r) was used to determine the relationship between the CARS scores among patients with autism and different variables.
RESULTS
The mean plasma level of Arc/Arg3.1 protein in autism was 1.689 ± 0.917 pg/ml, significantly higher than that of healthy controls, i.e. 0.792 ± 1.056 pg/ml (p < 0.001). No significant relationship was found between plasma levels of Arc/Arg3.1 protein and CARS scores (r = -0.06; p > 0.05) or age (r = -0.27; p > 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
The mean plasma level of Arc/Arg3.1 protein was higher in children with autism than in controls, suggesting that Arc/Arg3.1 could be a potential early blood biomarker for diagnosis of autism.
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