Evaluation of antineuronal antibodies and 8-OHdG in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder: a case-control study

Abstract

Objective

The purpose of our study was to investigated the anti-Yo, anti-Hu, anti-Ri, anti-amphiphysin antibody levels and 8-OHdG in mothers of children with autism.

Methods

This study included 60 participants, 33 of whom were healthy mothers of 3–12-year-old children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the 27 others who constituted the control group, were healthy mothers with age-matched healthy children. Two groups were examined for plasma anti-Yo, anti-Hu, anti-amphiphysin and anti-Ri antibodies and, 8-OHdG levels. The participants were asked to accomplish a sociodemographic data form. The severity of ASD symptoms was evaluated according to the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS).

Results

Anti-amphiphysin antibody levels and anti-Ri antibody positivity were significantly higher in the case group (p = 0.001; p = 0.027, respectively). The two groups did not significantly differ in terms of anti-Yo and anti-Hu antibody levels and in terms of 8-OHdG levels (p = 0.065; p = 0.099; p = 0.490, respectively). The two groups did not significantly differ in terms of sociodemographic data (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

According to the our study, maternal antineuronal antibodies, such as anti-amphiphysin and anti-Ri, may contribute to the risk of childhood autism. Studies with larger samples are needed.

KEY POINTS

• Maternal factors associated with autism should be investigated in order to create early diagnosis and treatment opportunities for autism.

• Based on the importance of immunological and cerebellar pathologies in autism aetiology, we aimed to investigate antineuronal antibodies in mothers of children with autism.

• Maternal antineuronal antibodies, such as anti-amphiphysin and anti-Ri, may contribute to the risk of childhood autism.

• High anti-amphiphysin antibody levels in mothers of children with autism may also occur against the amphiphysin in the structure of the SrGAP3 gene, which is associated with autism.

Keywords:

• Autism
• maternal factors
• antineuronal antibodies
• 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine
• oxidative stress
• cerebellum

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank our patients and their parents for taking part in this study.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Harran University Scientific Research Coordination Office [Protocol No. 17193, dated 12/08/2017].