Serum Cingulin levels are increased in children with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

Background

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental disorders in which the underlying pathogenesis and etiologic factors are not fully understood. The blood brain barrier (BBB) ​​plays a critical role in central nervous system defense by limiting access to circulating solutes, macromolecules, and cells that can negatively affect neuronal activity. The loss of BBB integrity is likely to be seen as a common pathologic finding for many psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, ASD, and mood disorders. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether serum Cingulin levels are associated with ASD.

Subjects and Methods

A total of 40 treatment-naive children with ASD and 40 healthy controls were included in the present study. The Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Aged Children, Present and Lifetime Version-DSM-5 (K-SADS-PL-DSM-5) has been used to screen healthy controls for psychiatric disorders by a psychiatrist after a physical examination by a paediatrician. The clinical severity of the ASD symptoms has been assessed by the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). Venous blood samples were collected and serum Cingulin levels were measured.

Results

When the ASD and control groups were compared, CARS and Cingulin values of the patient group were statistically higher than the healthy group. There is a statistically positive correlation between CARS and Cingulin values.

Discussion

To the best of our knowledge, this study is a first in the literature conducted about the serum Cingulin levels, which is a component of BBB, among patients with ASD. Our findings demonstrate that serum Cingulin levels are meaningfully higher in ASD group compared to the healthy control group. It has been also indicated that there has been a meaningful relationship between serum Cingulin levels and ASD symptom severity.

Keywords:

• ASD
• cıngulın levels
• blood braın barrıer

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their gratitude to the patients who participated in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Ethics approval statement

The research has been approved by Süleyman Demirel University non-interventional clinical research ethics committee, numbered 17/420 on 01/12/2022. A written consent has been obtained from all the participants and their families.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grants from Funding Agencies in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.