title: Uncoupling of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) fragments is related to self-injury.
abstract: Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) contains several interesting, behaviorally active peptides. Release patterns of these fragments have been related to bizarre episodes of self-injurious behavior (SIB) among autistic individuals. Moreover, elevation in beta-endorphin (betaE) but not ACTH levels was associated with a positive response to an acutely administered, centrally acting opioid blocker among autistic individuals exhibiting SIB. In the present study, POMC fragments were measured in 12 self-injurious patients before and after long term (3 month) treatment with an opiate blocker naltrexone (NTX). POMC fragments were sampled from blood collected at the beginning of the baseline and placebo-controlled treatment phases of the study. Results indicated that the co-release (coupling) of POMC fragments were stable over time and the profile of POMC fragments in plasma predicted the effectiveness of a CNS acting drug in autistic subjects who self-injure.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA. casandma@uci.edu
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Sandman
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hetrick
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Talyor
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marion
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chicz-DeMet
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000378:metabolism*; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D009271:Naltrexone; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone