Increased Serum Levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha, Resistin, and Visfatin in the Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Case-Control Study

Background. Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are complex disorders where the pathogenesis is not fully understood. Several proinflammatory and immunoinflammatory disturbances have been observed in the etiology of ASD. There is, however, limited knowledge on variations of adipokines in ASD. The prese...

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Main Authors: Mohammad Ali Ghaffari, Elham Mousavinejad, Forough Riahi, Masoumeh Mousavinejad, Mohammad Reza Afsharmanesh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-01-01
Series:Neurology Research International
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/9060751
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author Mohammad Ali Ghaffari
Elham Mousavinejad
Forough Riahi
Masoumeh Mousavinejad
Mohammad Reza Afsharmanesh
author_facet Mohammad Ali Ghaffari
Elham Mousavinejad
Forough Riahi
Masoumeh Mousavinejad
Mohammad Reza Afsharmanesh
author_sort Mohammad Ali Ghaffari
collection DOAJ
description Background. Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are complex disorders where the pathogenesis is not fully understood. Several proinflammatory and immunoinflammatory disturbances have been observed in the etiology of ASD. There is, however, limited knowledge on variations of adipokines in ASD. The present study aimed to analyze the serum levels of resistin, visfatin, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in children with ASD in relation to body weight, gender, and ASD severity level. Method. In total, 30 children with ASD (mean age: 7.72±2.65 y; range; 4–12 y) and 30 healthy children (mean age: 8.4±2.66 y; range: 4–12 y), including males and females, were matched for age, gender, and body mass index (BMI). Serum samples were collected, and visfatin, resistin, and TNF-α serum levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Result. Serum visfatin, resistin, and TNF-α levels in children with ASD were significantly higher than that in the healthy patients (p<0.05). Two significant correlations were found: a correlation between resistin and visfatin with TNF-α in children with ASD (R = 0.8 and R = 0.62, resp.) and a correlation between resistin and visfatin in children with ASD (R = 0.66). Conclusion. Higher TNF-α, resistin, and visfatin levels were found in children with ASD in comparison with controls, suggesting that elevated levels of serum proinflammatory agents may be implicated in the pathophysiology of ASD.
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spelling doaj-art-fe0272a72efe4fff9d806abcd34635072025-08-20T03:25:46ZengWileyNeurology Research International2090-18522090-18602016-01-01201610.1155/2016/90607519060751Increased Serum Levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha, Resistin, and Visfatin in the Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Case-Control StudyMohammad Ali Ghaffari0Elham Mousavinejad1Forough Riahi2Masoumeh Mousavinejad3Mohammad Reza Afsharmanesh4Biochemistry Department, Medical School, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IranBiochemistry Department, Medical School, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IranDepartment of Psychiatry, Medical School, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IranCentre for Stem Cell Biology (CSCB), Department of Biomedical Science, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UKBiochemistry Department, Medical School, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IranBackground. Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are complex disorders where the pathogenesis is not fully understood. Several proinflammatory and immunoinflammatory disturbances have been observed in the etiology of ASD. There is, however, limited knowledge on variations of adipokines in ASD. The present study aimed to analyze the serum levels of resistin, visfatin, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in children with ASD in relation to body weight, gender, and ASD severity level. Method. In total, 30 children with ASD (mean age: 7.72±2.65 y; range; 4–12 y) and 30 healthy children (mean age: 8.4±2.66 y; range: 4–12 y), including males and females, were matched for age, gender, and body mass index (BMI). Serum samples were collected, and visfatin, resistin, and TNF-α serum levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Result. Serum visfatin, resistin, and TNF-α levels in children with ASD were significantly higher than that in the healthy patients (p<0.05). Two significant correlations were found: a correlation between resistin and visfatin with TNF-α in children with ASD (R = 0.8 and R = 0.62, resp.) and a correlation between resistin and visfatin in children with ASD (R = 0.66). Conclusion. Higher TNF-α, resistin, and visfatin levels were found in children with ASD in comparison with controls, suggesting that elevated levels of serum proinflammatory agents may be implicated in the pathophysiology of ASD.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/9060751
spellingShingle Mohammad Ali Ghaffari
Elham Mousavinejad
Forough Riahi
Masoumeh Mousavinejad
Mohammad Reza Afsharmanesh
Increased Serum Levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha, Resistin, and Visfatin in the Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Case-Control Study
Neurology Research International
title Increased Serum Levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha, Resistin, and Visfatin in the Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Case-Control Study
title_full Increased Serum Levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha, Resistin, and Visfatin in the Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Case-Control Study
title_fullStr Increased Serum Levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha, Resistin, and Visfatin in the Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Case-Control Study
title_full_unstemmed Increased Serum Levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha, Resistin, and Visfatin in the Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Case-Control Study
title_short Increased Serum Levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha, Resistin, and Visfatin in the Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Case-Control Study
title_sort increased serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha resistin and visfatin in the children with autism spectrum disorders a case control study
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/9060751
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