The expression of caspases is enhanced in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of autism spectrum disorder patients.
J Autism Dev Disord
; 42(7): 1403-10, 2012 Jul.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21969075
Autism and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are heterogeneous complex neuro-developmental disorders characterized by dysfunctions in social interaction and communication skills. Their pathogenesis has been linked to interactions between genes and environmental factors. Consistent with the evidence of certain similarities between immune cells and neurons, autistic children also show an altered immune response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). In this study, we investigated the activation of caspases, cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteases involved in apoptosis and several other cell functions in PBMCs from 15 ASD children compared to age-matched normal healthy developing controls. The mRNA levels for caspase-1, -2, -4, -5 were significantly increased in ASD children as compared to healthy subjects. Protein levels of Caspase-3, -7, -12 were also increased in ASD patients. Our data are suggestive of a possible role of the caspase pathway in ASD clinical outcome and of the use of caspase as potential diagnostic and/or therapeutic tools in ASD management.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Monocitos
/
Trastornos Generalizados del Desarrollo Infantil
/
Caspasas
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
Límite:
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Autism Dev Disord
Año:
2012
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Italia
Pais de publicación:
Estados Unidos