Levels of soluble platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 and P-selectin are decreased in children with autism spectrum disorder.
BACKGROUND
Although the etiopathology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is not clear, there is increasing evidence that dysfunction in the immune system affects many children with ASD. Findings of immune dysfunction in ASD include increases in inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and microglial activity in brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid, as well as abnormal peripheral immune cell function.


METHODS
Adhesion molecules, such as platelet endothelial adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), P-selectin, and L-selectin, function to facilitate leukocyte transendothelial migration. We assessed concentrations of soluble adhesion molecules, sPECAM-1, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, sP-selectin, and sL-selectin in the plasma of 49 participants with ASD and 31 typically developing controls of the same age, all of whom were enrolled as part of the Autism Phenome Project. Behavioral assessment, the levels of soluble adhesion molecules, and head circumference were compared in the same subjects.


RESULTS
Levels of sPECAM-1 and sP-selectin were significantly reduced in the ASD group compared to typically developing controls (p < .02). Soluble PECAM-1 levels were negatively associated with repetitive behavior and abnormal brain growth in children with ASD (p = .03).


CONCLUSIONS
Because adhesion molecules modulate the permeability and signaling at the blood-brain barrier as well as leukocyte infiltration into the central nervous system, the current data suggest a role for these molecules in the complex pathophysiology of ASD.
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
Charity E
CE
Onore
Christine Wu
CW
Nordahl
Gregory S
GS
Young
Judy A
JA
Van de Water
Sally J
SJ
Rogers
Paul
P
Ashwood
D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006257:Head / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D019041:L-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000097:blood*; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood
D019007:P-Selectin; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D019041:L-Selectin