Low-grade endotoxemia in patients with severe autism.
The objective of this study was to examine whether levels of endotoxin and other markers of immuno-inflammatory activation are altered in adult patients with severe autism. We determined circulating serum endotoxin levels, its soluble receptor (sCD14), and markers of immuno-inflammatory activation (IL-1beta, IL-6, and IL-10) in 22 adult patients with severe autism and 28 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Compared with healthy subjects, serum levels of endotoxin were significantly higher in autistic patients and inversely and independently correlated with Socialization scores on the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS) and ADI-R Domain A score (social). Whether increased endotoxin may contribute to the pathophysiology of inflammation and impaired reciprocal social interaction in autism should be further explored in future studies.
Emanuele
Enzo
E
Department of Health Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pavia, Via Bassi, 21, I-27100, Pavia, Italy. enzo.em@libero.it <enzo.em@libero.it>
Orsi
Paolo
P
Boso
Marianna
M
Broglia
Davide
D
Brondino
Natascia
N
Barale
Francesco
F
di Nemi
Stefania Ucelli
SU
Politi
Pierluigi
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D019446:Endotoxemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012919:Social Behavior; D055815:Young Adult
D004731:Endotoxins; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D016753:Interleukin-10