Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in childhood. (July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bryn, V.; Halvorsen, B.; Ueland, T.; Isaksen, J.; Kolkova, K.; Ravn, K.; Skjeldal, O.H.
• Is Part Of: European journal of paediatric neurology. Volume 19:Number 4(2015:Jul.)
• Page Start: 411
• Page End: 414
• Publication Date: 2015-07
• Subjects: Pediatric neurology -- Periodicals; Nervous System Diseases -- Periodicals; Child -- Periodicals; Infant -- Periodicals; Neurologie pédiatrique -- Périodiques; Pediatric neurology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 618.928
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2015.03.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1090-3798

Abstract

<abstract xml:lang="en" abstract-type="author" id="abs0010"> <title id="sectitle0010">Abstract</title> <sec> <title id="sectitle0015a">Background</title> <p id="abspara0010">Neurotrophic factors are essential regulators of neuronal maturation including synaptic synthesis. Among those, Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been in particular focus in the understanding of autism spectrum disorders (ASD).</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sectitle0020a">Purpose</title> <p id="abspara0015">The aim of our study was to investigate whether BNDF could be used as diagnostic/biological marker for ASD. For this purpose we examined the plasma levels of BDNF and the precursors pro- BDNF in patients with ASD and compared it with non-autistic controls; determined whether there was a correlation between the BDNF and proBDNF levels and clinical severity. We also investigated the coding region of BDNF identify for well-variations which could be associated to ASD.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sectitle0025a">Methods</title> <p id="abspara0020">The 65 ASD patients (51 boys) were enrolled from a recent completed epidemiological survey covering two counties (Oppland and Hedmark) in Norway. The mean age of the total number of children who participated in this study was 11, 7 years. 30 non-autistic children were included as controls, 14 boys and 16 girls. The mean age was 11.3 years. Exclusion criteria for control group were individuals suffering from either neurological, endocrine, or immune insuffiency.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sectitle0030a">Results and conclusions</title> <p id="abspara0025">Patients with ASD were characterized by moderately but significantly elevated plasma levels of BDNF compared to matched controls. No differences were observed in the proBDNF level between patients and controls. Within the ASD group, children with intellectual disability demonstrated increased BDNF, but not proBDNF levels, while the presence of ADHD had no impact on circulating proBDNF or BDNF. No further associations between plasma proBDNF or BDNF and other clinical demographics were observed.</p> </sec> </abstract>