Han Yvonne M Y, Yau Suk-Yu, Chan Melody M Y, Wong Chun-Kwok, Chan Agnes S
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Department of Chemical Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Brain Sci. 2022 Mar 29;12(4):460. doi: 10.3390/brainsci12040460.
Previous studies have shown that immunological factors are involved in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). The present study examined whether immunological abnormalities are associated with cognitive and behavioral deficits in children with ASD and whether children with ASD show different immunological biomarkers and brain-derived neurotrophic factor BDNF levels than typically developing (TD) children. Sixteen children with TD and 18 children with ASD, aged 6-18 years, voluntarily participated in the study. Participants' executive functions were measured using neuropsychological tests, and behavioral measures were measured using parent ratings. Immunological measures were assessed by measuring the participants' blood serum levels of chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) and chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5). Children with ASD showed greater deficits in cognitive functions as well as altered levels of immunological measures when compared to TD children, and their cognitive functions and behavioral deficits were significantly associated with increased CCL5 levels and decreased BDNF levels. These results provide evidence to support the notion that altered immune functions and neurotrophin deficiency are involved in the pathogenesis of ASD.
先前的研究表明，免疫因素参与了自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）的发病机制。本研究调查了免疫异常是否与ASD儿童的认知和行为缺陷相关，以及ASD儿童是否与正常发育（TD）儿童表现出不同的免疫生物标志物和脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）水平。16名6至18岁的TD儿童和18名ASD儿童自愿参与了该研究。使用神经心理学测试测量参与者的执行功能，并使用家长评分测量行为指标。通过测量参与者血清中的趋化因子配体2（CCL2）和趋化因子配体5（CCL5）水平来评估免疫指标。与TD儿童相比，ASD儿童表现出更大的认知功能缺陷以及免疫指标水平的改变，并且他们的认知功能和行为缺陷与CCL5水平升高和BDNF水平降低显著相关。这些结果为支持免疫功能改变和神经营养因子缺乏参与ASD发病机制这一观点提供了证据。
