title: Elevated plasma concentrations of S100 calcium-binding protein B and tumor necrosis factor alpha in children with autism spectrum disorders.
abstract: To investigate plasma concentrations of S100B (a calcium-binding protein derived primarily from the glia) and inflammatory cytokines in children with autism and the relationship between S100B and cytokine concentrations.
  Plasma levels of S100B, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interferon gamma, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17A were measured in 40 unmedicated children with autism and 35 normally developing healthy children. The severity of autism was assessed using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS).
  Concentrations of both S100B and TNF-α were higher in children with autism before and after adjusting for a priori-selected confounders (age, sex, and body mass index). S100B concentrations were higher in children with severe autism compared to children with mild-moderate autism. However, this association remained as a trend after adjusting for confounders. S100B concentrations correlated positively with TNF-α concentrations.
  Our findings showing an increase in peripheral concentrations of S100B and TNF-α provide limited support to the hypothesis about the roles of altered immune function and S100B in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Studies of larger numbers of well-characterized individuals with ASD are needed to clarify the potential role of the immune system in the pathophysiology of this disorder.
authors.affiliation: Child Study Center, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Selin Aktan
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Guloksuz
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Istanbul University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Abali
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Institute of Experimental Medicine (DETAE), Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Esin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aktas Cetin
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Institute of Experimental Medicine (DETAE), Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bilgic Gazioglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Institute of Experimental Medicine (DETAE), Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gunnur
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Deniz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Istanbul Memorial Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Abdurrahman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kawikova
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.|Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, South Limburg Mental Health Research and Teaching Network, European Graduate School of Neuroscience (EURON), School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sinan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guloksuz
authors.affiliation: Child Study Center, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Leckman
mesh_terms: D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit / Q000097:blood*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007378:Interleukins; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; C579160:S100B protein, human; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha