title: The expression of caspases is enhanced in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of autism spectrum disorder patients.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Division of Pharmacology, Second University of Naples, via S Maria di Costantinopoli 16, 80138 Naples, Italy. dariosin@uab.edu
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Siniscalco
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sapone
authors.forename: Catia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cirillo
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: de Novellis
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Magistris
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fasano
authors.forename: Sabatino
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maione
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Antonucci
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D015153:Blotting, Western; D020169:Caspases / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009000:Monocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012016:Reference Values; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020169:Caspases