title: Oxidative Stress and Erythrocyte Membrane Alterations in Children with Autism: Correlation with Clinical Features.
abstract: It has been suggested that oxidative stress may play a role in the pathogenesis of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), but the literature reports somewhat contradictory results. To further investigate the issue, we evaluated a high number of peripheral oxidative stress parameters, and some related issues such as erythrocyte membrane functional features and lipid composition. Twenty-one autistic children (Au) aged 5 to 12 years, were gender and age-matched with 20 typically developing children (TD). Erythrocyte thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, urinary isoprostane and hexanoyl-lysine adduct levels were elevated in Au, thus confirming the occurrence of an imbalance of the redox status of Au, whilst other oxidative stress markers or associated parameters (urinary 8-oxo-dG, plasma radical absorbance capacity and carbonyl groups, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and catalase activities) were unchanged. A very significant reduction of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase activity (-66%, p<0.0001), a reduction of erythrocyte membrane fluidity and alteration in erythrocyte fatty acid membrane profile (increase in monounsaturated fatty acids, decrease in EPA and DHA-ω3 with a consequent increase in ω6/ω3 ratio) were found in Au compared to TD, without change in membrane sialic acid content. Some Au clinical features appear to be correlated with these findings; in particular, hyperactivity score appears to be related with some parameters of the lipidomic profile and membrane fluidity. Oxidative stress and erythrocyte membrane alterations may play a role in the pathogenesis of ASD and prompt the development of palliative therapeutic protocols. Moreover, the marked decrease in NKA could be potentially utilized as a peripheral biomarker of ASD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental, Diagnostic, and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghezzo
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Visconti
authors.forename: Provvidenza M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Abruzzo
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bolotta
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferreri
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gobbi
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Malisardi
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manfredini
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nanetti
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pipitone
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Raffaelli
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Resca
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vignini
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mazzanti
mesh_terms: D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D028421:Isoprostanes / Q000652:urine; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D028421:Isoprostanes; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase