title: Identification of organic acids as potential biomarkers in the urine of autistic children using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.
abstract: There is a need to identify metabolic phenotypes in autism as they might each require unique approaches to prevention. Biological markers can help define autism subtypes and reveal potential therapeutic targets. The aim of the study was to identify alterations of small molecular weight compounds and to find potential biomarkers. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was employed to evaluate major metabolic changes in low molecular weight urine metabolites of 14 children with autism spectrum disorders vs. 10 non-autistic subjects. The results prove the usefulness of an identified set of 21 endogenous compounds (including 14 organic acids), whose levels are changed in diseased children. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry method combined with multivariate statistical analysis techniques provide an efficient way of depicting metabolic perturbations of diseases, and may potentially be applicable as a novel strategy for the noninvasive diagnosis and treatment of autism.
authors.affiliation: Institute of General and Ecological Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Żeromskiego 116, 90-924 Łódź, Poland. Electronic address: joanna.kaluzna-czaplinska@p.lodz.pl.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kałużna-Czaplińska
authors.affiliation: Institute of General and Ecological Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Żeromskiego 116, 90-924 Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Żurawicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Biopharmacy and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Gdańsk, Hallera 107, 80-416 Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Wiktoria
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Struck
authors.affiliation: Department of Biopharmacy and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Gdańsk, Hallera 107, 80-416 Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Markuszewski
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000652:urine*; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000652:urine*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000652:urine*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D013402:Sugar Alcohols / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D015415:Biomarkers; D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D013402:Sugar Alcohols
keywords: Autism; Biomarkers; Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry; Organic acids; Principal component analysis