Salivary IL-1 Beta Level Associated with Poor Sleep Quality in Children/Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Background: Sleep disorders are common in youths with autism spectrum disorders. Inflammatory cytokines such as Il-1 beta and Il-6 in saliva have been associated with alterations in sleep quality in various conditions. We assessed whether there were associations between the salivary concentration of...

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Main Authors: Milagros Fuentes-Albero, Mayra Alejandra Mafla-España, José Martínez-Raga, Omar Cauli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Pediatric Reports
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7503/16/4/81
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author Milagros Fuentes-Albero
Mayra Alejandra Mafla-España
José Martínez-Raga
Omar Cauli
author_facet Milagros Fuentes-Albero
Mayra Alejandra Mafla-España
José Martínez-Raga
Omar Cauli
author_sort Milagros Fuentes-Albero
collection DOAJ
description Background: Sleep disorders are common in youths with autism spectrum disorders. Inflammatory cytokines such as Il-1 beta and Il-6 in saliva have been associated with alterations in sleep quality in various conditions. We assessed whether there were associations between the salivary concentration of IL-1 beta and IL-6 and sleep quality in youths with ASD versus typically developing (TD) age- and gender-matched youths. Method: Forty children and adolescents with ASD or TD participated in this study (20% females). Their parents answered the items of a validated questionnaire on sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index). Results: The mean Pittsburgh score was significantly higher (i.e., the quality of sleep was poorer) in the ASD group (8.68 ± 0.35 (SEM), ranging from 7 to 12 points), compared to the TD group (7.35 ± 0.54 (SEM), ranging from 2 to 12 points) (<i>p</i> = 0.02, Mann–Whitney U test). There were no significant differences in the salivary concentration of Il-1 beta and IL-6 receptor between the two groups, but salivary IL-1 beta concentration was inversely associated with poor sleep quality in the ASD group. No associations between the salivary Il-6 concentration and sleep quality were found in either group. Linear regression analysis by separate groups revealed significant associations between the sleep quality score and the concentration of IL-1 beta in the ASD group (<i>p</i> = 0.01, OR = −0.53, 95% CI −0.008–0.001). In contrast, no significant associations were observed in the TD group, or for IL-6 in either group. No significant effects of sex, age, or use of psychotropic medications were found. Conclusions: Children and adolescents with ASD showed significantly poorer sleep quality based on their parents’ reports compared to the TD group, and the salivary IL-1 beta concentration was inversely associated with sleep quality only in the ASD group. Further studies on the associations between inflammatory cytokines and sleep in ASD are needed.
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spelling doaj-art-4263ae4dfbab433fb1d94668875c8a412025-08-20T02:57:00ZengMDPI AGPediatric Reports2036-75032024-10-0116494595610.3390/pediatric16040081Salivary IL-1 Beta Level Associated with Poor Sleep Quality in Children/Adolescents with Autism Spectrum DisorderMilagros Fuentes-Albero0Mayra Alejandra Mafla-España1José Martínez-Raga2Omar Cauli3Clínica Ripalda, 46002 Valencia, SpainNursing Department, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, SpainDepartment of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, Hospital Universitario Doctor Peset and University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, SpainNursing Department, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, SpainBackground: Sleep disorders are common in youths with autism spectrum disorders. Inflammatory cytokines such as Il-1 beta and Il-6 in saliva have been associated with alterations in sleep quality in various conditions. We assessed whether there were associations between the salivary concentration of IL-1 beta and IL-6 and sleep quality in youths with ASD versus typically developing (TD) age- and gender-matched youths. Method: Forty children and adolescents with ASD or TD participated in this study (20% females). Their parents answered the items of a validated questionnaire on sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index). Results: The mean Pittsburgh score was significantly higher (i.e., the quality of sleep was poorer) in the ASD group (8.68 ± 0.35 (SEM), ranging from 7 to 12 points), compared to the TD group (7.35 ± 0.54 (SEM), ranging from 2 to 12 points) (<i>p</i> = 0.02, Mann–Whitney U test). There were no significant differences in the salivary concentration of Il-1 beta and IL-6 receptor between the two groups, but salivary IL-1 beta concentration was inversely associated with poor sleep quality in the ASD group. No associations between the salivary Il-6 concentration and sleep quality were found in either group. Linear regression analysis by separate groups revealed significant associations between the sleep quality score and the concentration of IL-1 beta in the ASD group (<i>p</i> = 0.01, OR = −0.53, 95% CI −0.008–0.001). In contrast, no significant associations were observed in the TD group, or for IL-6 in either group. No significant effects of sex, age, or use of psychotropic medications were found. Conclusions: Children and adolescents with ASD showed significantly poorer sleep quality based on their parents’ reports compared to the TD group, and the salivary IL-1 beta concentration was inversely associated with sleep quality only in the ASD group. Further studies on the associations between inflammatory cytokines and sleep in ASD are needed.https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7503/16/4/81cytokinesinflammationsleepinsomniachildrenbiomarker
spellingShingle Milagros Fuentes-Albero
Mayra Alejandra Mafla-España
José Martínez-Raga
Omar Cauli
Salivary IL-1 Beta Level Associated with Poor Sleep Quality in Children/Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Pediatric Reports
cytokines
inflammation
sleep
insomnia
children
biomarker
title Salivary IL-1 Beta Level Associated with Poor Sleep Quality in Children/Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder
title_full Salivary IL-1 Beta Level Associated with Poor Sleep Quality in Children/Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder
title_fullStr Salivary IL-1 Beta Level Associated with Poor Sleep Quality in Children/Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder
title_full_unstemmed Salivary IL-1 Beta Level Associated with Poor Sleep Quality in Children/Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder
title_short Salivary IL-1 Beta Level Associated with Poor Sleep Quality in Children/Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder
title_sort salivary il 1 beta level associated with poor sleep quality in children adolescents with autism spectrum disorder
topic cytokines
inflammation
sleep
insomnia
children
biomarker
url https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7503/16/4/81
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