title: Altered neurotrophin, neuropeptide, cytokines and nitric oxide levels in autism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Modifications in neurotrophins, neuropeptides, cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) levels in autism may represent different biological aspects of the disease. In the present study we investigate simultaneously all these variables as an attempt to clarify their interrelationships in autism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) were determined in children with DSM-IV autistic disorder (n = 24) and in age- and gender-matched healthy controls (n = 24). VIP, NT-3, IFN-γ and IL-1β levels were measured by ELISA, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-6, IL-4, IL-2 were evaluated by fl ow cytometry, and NO by Griess reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma levels of VIP, IFN-γ and NO were significantly higher and NT-3 plasma levels were significantly lower in children with autism, compared to the healthy subjects. In children with autism there was a positive correlation between plasma levels of NO and IFN-γ.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate the presence of altered levels of neurotrophin and neuropeptide in infantile autism and provide additional evidence that higher levels of IFN-γ may be associated with increased oxidative stress in autism.
authors.affiliation: NUPICS/NIQUA, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: M H F S
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Tostes
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Gattaz
authors.forename: M A F
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Brandão
authors.forename: N R B
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Raposo
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D020933:Neurotrophin 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D007371:Interferon-gamma