Decreased levels of G protein-coupled estrogen receptor in children with autism spectrum disorders. (November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Altun, Hatice; Kurutaş, Ergül Belge; Şahin, Nilfer; Sınır, Hayati; Fındıklı, Ebru
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 257(2017)
• Page Start: 67
• Page End: 71
• Publication Date: 2017-11
• Subjects: Estrogen -- Estogens receptors -- GPER -- Sex hormones -- Autism spectrum disorders -- Psychiatric disorders; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.06.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Abstract: Sex hormones, specially estrogen, and ıt is receptors plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders including autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between ASD and G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), a recently discovered estrogen receptors, and also to study the relation of serum GPER levels with the severity of autistic symptoms. The present study included 45 children with drug naive ASD diagnosed by DSM-V criteria, aged between 3 and 12 years and 40 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. The severity of ASD was evaluated with the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) total score. The GPER levels in the serum were measured using the quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique. The serum GPER level was significantly lower in the ASD patients than in the controls. There was a negative significant correlation between the GPER level and the CARS score. There were no significant correlations between GPER level with estradiol and age. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the decreased serum GPER levels were associated with ASD and GPER may play an important role in the etiology of ASD. Highlights: Sex hormones, specially estrogen, and ıt's receptors plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders including autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Estrogen acts through the binding to its receptor called estrogen receptors alpha and beta, and a recently discovered G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER). The results of the present study demonstrate that the serum GPER level was lower in the children with ASD than in the healthy control subjects. There was a negative significant correlation between the GPER level and with the severity of ASD. GPER may play an important role in the etiology of ASD.