Associations of Serum Cytokine Levels and Interleukin-6-572C/G Polymorphism with Myelin Damage in Chinese Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. (15th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Han, Yu; Xiong, Wenjuan; Liu, Jiaxue; Dai, Wei; Su, Yuanyuan; Gao, Lei; Wang, Gengfu; Li, Peiying; Zhang, Xin
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience. Volume 465(2021)
• Page Start: 95
• Page End: 104
• Publication Date: 2021-06-15
• Subjects: ASD autism spectrum disorder -- CABS Clancy Autism Behavior Scale -- CARS Childhood Autism Rating Scale -- CI confidence interval -- CNS central nervous system -- ELISA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay -- IL interleukin -- MBP myelin basic protein -- OR odds ratio -- PCR-RFLP polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism -- TD typically developing; autism spectrum disorder -- cytokine -- myelin basic protein -- myelin damage -- symptom severity -- polymorphisms; Neurochemistry -- Periodicals; Neurophysiology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurochimie -- Périodiques; Neurophysiologie -- Périodiques; Neurochemistry; Neurophysiology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.04.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4522

Abstract

Highlights: Higher serum levels of IL-1β, IL-2R, IL-6, IL-8 and MBP in Chinese children with ASD are characterized. Serum level of MBP was positively associated with the symptom severity of ASD. There existed positive correlations between serum levels of IL-1β, IL-2R, IL-6 and MBP. The role of interaction between IL-2R, IL-6 and MBP in ASD is proposed. IL-6-572C/G polymorphism may be associated with myelin damage by affecting circulating level of IL-6 in ASD. Abstract: Increasing evidence suggests that immunological disturbances and abnormalities in axonal myelination are involved in the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The present study aimed to determine the role of cytokines in myelin damage in Chinese children with ASD and the role of cytokine dysregulation, myelin damage, and cytokine polymorphisms in ASD in Chinese children. The present case-control study included 98 ASD subjects and 252 typically developing (TD) controls; the levels of serum cytokines and myelin basic protein (MBP) were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cytokine polymorphisms were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Autistic clinical manifestations were assessed by the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). The results showed that serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2R, IL-6, IL-8, and MBP were higher in children with ASD compared with those in TD children. In individuals with ASD, serum MBP level was significantly positively associated with the CARS total score, and serum levels of IL-1β, IL-2R, IL-6, and MBP demonstrated positive correlations. The data identified IL-6*MBP as a factor that influenced the risk of ASD, and IL-2R*MBP was identified as a factor that influenced symptom severity, which influenced auxiliary diagnosis of ASD. The presence of the interleukin-6-572CC genotype was associated with significantly higher serum levels of IL-6 and MBP but did not influence the risk and symptom severity of ASD. Therefore, the results suggested inflammatory responses and myelin damage in Chinese children with ASD. Cytokine dysregulation influenced myelin damage in ASD; moreover, the interactions of the cytokines and myelin damage influenced the risk and symptom severity of ASD. The IL-6-572C/G genotypes may be associated with myelin damage in ASD by influencing the circulating level of IL-6.