RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Dysbiosis of gut microbiota are commonly reported in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and may contribute to behavioral impairment. Vitamin A (VA) plays a role in regulation of gut microbiota. This study was performed to investigate the role of VA in the changes of gut microbiota and changes of autism functions in children with ASD. RESULTS: Sixty four, aged 1 to 8 years old children with ASD completed a 6-month follow-up study with VA intervention. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to assess plasma retinol levels. The Autism Behaviour Checklist (ABC), Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) were used to assess autism symptoms. CD38 and acid-related orphan receptor alpha (RORA) mRNA levels were used to assess autism-related biochemical indicators' changes. Evaluations of plasma retinol, ABC, CARS, SRS, CD38 and RORA mRNA levels were performed before and after 6 months of intervention in the 64 children. Illumina MiSeq for 16S rRNA genes was used to compare the differences in gut microbiota before and after 6 months of treatment in the subset 20 of the 64 children. After 6 months of intervention, plasma retinol, CD38 and RORA mRNA levels significantly increased (all P < 0.05); the scores of ABC, CARS and SRS scales showed no significant differences (all P > 0.05) in the 64 children. Meanwhile, the proportion of Bacteroidetes/Bacteroidales significantly increased and the proportion of Bifidobacterium significantly decreased in the subgroup of 20 (all false discovery rate (FDR) q < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Bacteroidetes/Bacteroidales were the key taxa related to VA. Moreover, VA played a role in the changes in autism biomarkers. It remains unclear whether the VA concentration is associated with autism symptoms. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study protocol was peer reviewed and approved by the institutional review board of Children's Hospital, Chongqing Medical University in 2013 and retrospectively registered in Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) on November 6, 2014 (TRN: ChiCTR-ROC-14005442 ).
Assuntos
Transtorno do Espectro Autista/complicações , Transtorno do Espectro Autista/tratamento farmacológico , Suplementos Nutricionais , Microbioma Gastrointestinal/efeitos dos fármacos , Vitamina A/farmacologia , ADP-Ribosil Ciclase 1/sangue , Transtorno do Espectro Autista/sangue , Transtorno do Espectro Autista/psicologia , Biomarcadores/sangue , Criança , Comportamento Infantil/efeitos dos fármacos , Pré-Escolar , DNA Bacteriano/análise , Fezes/microbiologia , Feminino , Seguimentos , Microbioma Gastrointestinal/genética , Humanos , Lactente , Masculino , Ensaios Clínicos Controlados não Aleatórios como Assunto , Projetos Piloto , RNA Mensageiro/sangue , RNA Ribossômico 16S/genética , Método Simples-Cego , Vitamina A/sangueRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Oxytocin, a hypothalamic hormone secreted upon release of ectoenzyme CD38, plays a vital role in interpersonal bonding behaviors. Reduced plasma oxytocin characterizes autistic individuals. CD38 levels, which were found to be low in LBCs derived from autistic patients, is upregulated upon the addition of a vitamin A derivative. During pregnancy, oxytocin is also secreted by placenta. Recent controversial studies have suggested an increased risk for autism when oxytocin is used during induction and augmentation of labor. We aimed to examine the tripartite relationship between oxytocin, CD38 and vitamin A in pregnant women and their newborns. METHODS: Thirty-one healthy expectant mothers were enlisted for this study. Levels of oxytocin, CD38 and ATRA were measured in both maternal peripheral and newborn cord blood, and the tripartite relationship between these parameters examined. Estrogen and progesterone levels of the mothers were also recorded. Several clinical measures were also noted. RESULTS: Mean maternal oxytocin and vitamin A levels were approximately 8- and 4-fold higher, respectively, than neonatal levels. CD38 expression, however, was 9 times higher in neonates than in the maternal group. Positive correlation was found between maternal and cord blood for both oxytocin and CD38. CONCLUSIONS: This establishment of normative values for oxytocin, CD38 and vitamin A in healthy pregnant women and newborns may serve as a reference in the investigation of developing pathologies of disorders such as autism.
Assuntos
ADP-Ribosil Ciclase 1/fisiologia , Hipotálamo/fisiologia , Glicoproteínas de Membrana/fisiologia , Ocitocina/fisiologia , Placenta/fisiologia , Vitamina A/fisiologia , ADP-Ribosil Ciclase 1/sangue , Transtorno Autístico , Feminino , Sangue Fetal/química , Humanos , Recém-Nascido , Glicoproteínas de Membrana/sangue , Ocitocina/sangue , Gravidez , Valores de Referência , Vitamina A/sangueRESUMO
Recently developed molecular prognostic tests in patients with early Binet stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) are costly and often require a high level of technologic expertise. Recent data give evidence for the prognostic relevance of the percentage of smudge cells in B-CLL. In our study we analysed the prognostic potential of this novel marker in a cohort of 100 CLL patients. The percentage of smudge cells ranged from 0% to 70% (median 21%). Patients with