title: Correlation Between Hedgehog (Hh) Protein Family and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the correlation of Sonic Hedgehog (SHH), Indian Hedgehog (IHH), and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational, comparative study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Autism Research and Treatment Center, Al-Amodi Autism Research Chair, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from October 2011 to May 2012.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum levels of SHH, IHH and BDNF were determined in recently diagnosed autistic patients and age-matched healthy children (n=25), using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) was used for the assessment of autistic severity. Spearman correlation co-efficient 'r' was determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum levels of IHH and SHH were significantly higher in autistic subjects than those of control subjects. There was significant correlation between age and IHH (r = 0.176, p = 0.03), BDNF and severe IHH (r = 0.1763, p = 0.003), and severe BDNF and severe SHH (r = 0.143, p < 0.001). However, there were no significant relationships among the serum levels of SHH, IHH and BDNF and the CARS score, age or gender.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings support a correlation between SHH, IHH and BDNF in autistic children, suggesting their pathological role in autism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Autism Research and Treatment Center, Faculty of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Dost Muhammad
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Halepoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Autism Research and Treatment Center, Faculty of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Shahid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bashir
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Autism Research and Treatment Center, Faculty of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Rana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zeina
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Autism Research and Treatment Center, Faculty of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Laila Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Al-Ayadhi
mesh_terms: D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000378:metabolism*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; C509239:SHH protein, human; C579455:BDNF protein, human