title: Mass spectrometry as a tool for studying autism spectrum disorder.
abstract: Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are increasing in incidence but have an incompletely understood etiology. Tools for uncovering clues to the cause of ASDs and means for diagnoses are valuable to the field. Mass Spectrometry (MS) has been a useful method for evaluating differences between individuals with ASDs versus matched controls. Different biological substances can be evaluated using MS, including urine, blood, saliva, and hair. This technique has been used to evaluate relatively unsupported hypotheses based on introduction of exogenous factors, such as opiate and heavy metal excretion theories of ASDs. MS has also been used to support disturbances in serotonin-related molecules, which have been more consistently observed in ASDs. Serotonergic system markers, markers for oxidative stress, cholesterol system disturbances, peptide hypo-phosphorylation and methylation have been measured using MS in ASDs, although further analyses with larger numbers of subjects are needed (as well as consideration of behavioral data). Refinements in MS and data analysis are ongoing, allowing for the possibility that future studies examining body fluids and specimens from ASD subjects could continue to yield novel insights. This review summarizes MS investigations that have been conducted to study ASD to date and provides insight into future promising applications for this technique, with focus on proteomic studies.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry and Proteomics Group Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Clarkson University, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, NY 13699-5810 USA.
authors.forename: Alisa G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry and Proteomics Group Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Clarkson University, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, NY 13699-5810 USA.
authors.forename: Armand G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Ngounou Wetie
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry and Proteomics Group Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Clarkson University, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, NY 13699-5810 USA.
authors.forename: Izabela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sokolowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Plattsburgh, 101 Broad Street, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 USA.
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Plattsburgh, 101 Broad Street, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 USA.
authors.forename: Jeanne P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Rostock, Gehlsheimer Straße 20, D-18147 Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: Tanja Maria
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Michel
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Rostock, Gehlsheimer Straße 20, D-18147 Rostock, Germany ; College of Medicine, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP UK.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thome
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry and Proteomics Group Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Clarkson University, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, NY 13699-5810 USA.
authors.forename: Costel C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Darie
keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Mass spectrometry; Protein biomarkers; Proteomics