Decreased serum levels of platelet-endothelial adhesion molecule (PECAM-1) in subjects with high-functioning autism: a negative correlation with head circumference at birth.
BACKGROUND
Accumulating evidence suggests that the immune system plays a role in the pathophysiology of autism, and that the adhesion molecules play an important role in the process of inflammation. This study was undertaken to determine whether serum levels of the adhesion molecules in subjects with high-functioning autism are altered as compared with those of normal controls.


METHODS
Seventeen male subjects with high-functioning autism and 22 male age-matched unrelated healthy control subjects were enrolled. Serum levels of the soluble forms of platelet-endothelial adhesion molecule (PECAM-1), intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1) were measured.


RESULTS
Levels of PECAM-1, but not ICAM-1, in the subjects with autism were significantly lower than those of control subjects. VCAM-1 showed a weak trend for a lowered level. There was a negative correlation between serum levels of PECAM-1 and head circumference at birth in the autistic subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that PECAM-1 plays a role in the pathophysiology of high-functioning autism.
Tsuchiya
Kenji J
KJ
Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan. hashimoto@faculty.chiba-u.jp
Hashimoto
Kenji
K
Iwata
Yasuhide
Y
Tsujii
Masatsugu
M
Sekine
Yoshimoto
Y
Sugihara
Genichi
G
Matsuzaki
Hideo
H
Suda
Shiro
S
Kawai
Masayoshi
M
Nakamura
Kazuhiko
K
Minabe
Yoshio
Y
Yagi
Atsuko
A
Iyo
Masaomi
M
Takei
Nori
N
Mori
Norio
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000097:blood*; D002508:Cephalometry; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D006257:Head / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D036801:Parturition; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood
D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1