B-Lymphocytes from a Population of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Unaffected Siblings Exhibit Hypersensitivity to Thimerosal
The role of thimerosal containing vaccines in the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been an area of intense debate, as has the presence of mercury dental amalgams and fish ingestion by pregnant mothers. We studied the effects of thimerosal on cell proliferation and mitochondrial func...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2013-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Toxicology |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/801517 |
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| author | Martyn A. Sharpe Taylor L. Gist David S. Baskin |
| author_facet | Martyn A. Sharpe Taylor L. Gist David S. Baskin |
| author_sort | Martyn A. Sharpe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The role of thimerosal containing vaccines in the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been an area of intense debate, as has the presence of mercury dental amalgams and fish ingestion by pregnant mothers. We studied the effects of thimerosal on cell proliferation and mitochondrial function from B-lymphocytes taken from individuals with autism, their nonautistic twins, and their nontwin siblings. Eleven families were examined and compared to matched controls. B-cells were grown with increasing levels of thimerosal, and various assays (LDH, XTT, DCFH, etc.) were performed to examine the effects on cellular proliferation and mitochondrial function. A subpopulation of eight individuals (4 ASD, 2 twins, and 2 siblings) from four of the families showed thimerosal hypersensitivity, whereas none of the control individuals displayed this response. The thimerosal concentration required to inhibit cell proliferation in these individuals was only 40% of controls. Cells hypersensitive to thimerosal also had higher levels of oxidative stress markers, protein carbonyls, and oxidant generation. This suggests certain individuals with a mild mitochondrial defect may be highly susceptible to mitochondrial specific toxins like the vaccine preservative thimerosal. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ca74f657a0a946b7948ebd08fedb5948 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1687-8191 1687-8205 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2013-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Toxicology |
| spelling | doaj-art-ca74f657a0a946b7948ebd08fedb59482025-02-03T06:14:16ZengWileyJournal of Toxicology1687-81911687-82052013-01-01201310.1155/2013/801517801517B-Lymphocytes from a Population of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Unaffected Siblings Exhibit Hypersensitivity to ThimerosalMartyn A. Sharpe0Taylor L. Gist1David S. Baskin2Department of Neurosurgery, The Methodist Neurological Institute, 6560 Fannin Street, Scurlock Tower No. 944, Houston, TX 77030, USADepartment of Neurosurgery, The Methodist Neurological Institute, 6560 Fannin Street, Scurlock Tower No. 944, Houston, TX 77030, USADepartment of Neurosurgery, The Methodist Neurological Institute, 6560 Fannin Street, Scurlock Tower No. 944, Houston, TX 77030, USAThe role of thimerosal containing vaccines in the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been an area of intense debate, as has the presence of mercury dental amalgams and fish ingestion by pregnant mothers. We studied the effects of thimerosal on cell proliferation and mitochondrial function from B-lymphocytes taken from individuals with autism, their nonautistic twins, and their nontwin siblings. Eleven families were examined and compared to matched controls. B-cells were grown with increasing levels of thimerosal, and various assays (LDH, XTT, DCFH, etc.) were performed to examine the effects on cellular proliferation and mitochondrial function. A subpopulation of eight individuals (4 ASD, 2 twins, and 2 siblings) from four of the families showed thimerosal hypersensitivity, whereas none of the control individuals displayed this response. The thimerosal concentration required to inhibit cell proliferation in these individuals was only 40% of controls. Cells hypersensitive to thimerosal also had higher levels of oxidative stress markers, protein carbonyls, and oxidant generation. This suggests certain individuals with a mild mitochondrial defect may be highly susceptible to mitochondrial specific toxins like the vaccine preservative thimerosal.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/801517 |
| spellingShingle | Martyn A. Sharpe Taylor L. Gist David S. Baskin B-Lymphocytes from a Population of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Unaffected Siblings Exhibit Hypersensitivity to Thimerosal Journal of Toxicology |
| title | B-Lymphocytes from a Population of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Unaffected Siblings Exhibit Hypersensitivity to Thimerosal |
| title_full | B-Lymphocytes from a Population of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Unaffected Siblings Exhibit Hypersensitivity to Thimerosal |
| title_fullStr | B-Lymphocytes from a Population of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Unaffected Siblings Exhibit Hypersensitivity to Thimerosal |
| title_full_unstemmed | B-Lymphocytes from a Population of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Unaffected Siblings Exhibit Hypersensitivity to Thimerosal |
| title_short | B-Lymphocytes from a Population of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Unaffected Siblings Exhibit Hypersensitivity to Thimerosal |
| title_sort | b lymphocytes from a population of children with autism spectrum disorder and their unaffected siblings exhibit hypersensitivity to thimerosal |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/801517 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT martynasharpe blymphocytesfromapopulationofchildrenwithautismspectrumdisorderandtheirunaffectedsiblingsexhibithypersensitivitytothimerosal AT taylorlgist blymphocytesfromapopulationofchildrenwithautismspectrumdisorderandtheirunaffectedsiblingsexhibithypersensitivitytothimerosal AT davidsbaskin blymphocytesfromapopulationofchildrenwithautismspectrumdisorderandtheirunaffectedsiblingsexhibithypersensitivitytothimerosal |