title: Hyperserotoninemia and antiserotonin antibodies in autism and other disorders.
abstract: This study examined the linkage between elevated blood serotonin in autism and the presence of circulating autoantibodies against the serotonin 5HT1A receptor. Information was also obtained on the diagnostic and receptor specificity of these autoantibodies. Blood serotonin was measured as was inhibition of serotonin binding to human cortical membranes by antibody-rich fractions of blood from controls and from patients with childhood autism, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Tourette's, and multiple sclerosis. The results showed elevated blood serotonin was not closely related to inhibition of serotonin binding by antibody-rich blood fractions. Inhibition of binding was highest for patients with multiple sclerosis and was not specific to the 5HT1A receptor as currently defined. Although inhibition was not specific to autism, the data were insufficient to establish if people with autism differed from normal controls on this measure.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Administration West Los Angeles Medical Center, California 90073.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yuwiler
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Ritvo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hanna
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Ellison
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D001667:Binding, Competitive / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000523:psychology; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000276:immunology; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000523:psychology; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000276:immunology*; D012561:Schizophrenia, Childhood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D005879:Tourette Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012701:Serotonin