Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Inonu University School of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey.
Psychiatr Danub. 2022 Summer;34(2):279-287. doi: 10.24869/psyd.2022.279.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by symptoms such as limited, and repetitive behavior patterns and disordered social interaction and communication. The etiology of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is not clearly known, it has been emphasized that the immune-inflammatory system may also play a role in this disease. This study aimed to evaluate in intestinal permeability, food antigen-antibody levels, inflammatory processes, and neuron damage in patients with ASD.
Thirty-five chıldren between the ages of 3-12 with ASD and 35 controls were included in the study. Both participants' height and weight were measured, and the parents filled the Socio-demographic Data and the Gastrointestinal Systems (GIS) Symptoms Form. Venous blood samples were collected, and serum zonulin, anti-gliadin Ig A and Ig G, IL6, TNF-alpha, TGF- ß, S100B, and NSE levels were measured by ELISA.
Serum zonulin levels in the ASD group were found to be significantly lower. IL-6 and TGF-ß were found to be significantly higher in the ASD group. There was no difference between the two groups in terms of serum anti-gliadin Ig A and Ig G and TNF-alpha values. Also, GIS symptoms, NSE and S100B levels were found similar between two groups.
Although findings showing low zonulin levels and increased inflammatory processes in ASD were found in this study, no difference was found in the parameters of brain damage. The findings show that intestinal permeability does not decrease in ASD and that inflammatory processes may play a role in ASD.
自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）是一种神经发育障碍，其特征是存在受限和重复的行为模式以及紊乱的社交互动和沟通。自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）的病因尚不清楚，但已强调免疫炎症系统也可能在这种疾病中发挥作用。本研究旨在评估 ASD 患者的肠通透性、食物抗原抗体水平、炎症过程和神经元损伤。
本研究纳入了 35 名 3-12 岁的 ASD 儿童和 35 名对照者。测量了参与者的身高和体重，父母填写了社会人口统计学数据和胃肠道系统（GIS）症状表。采集静脉血样，通过 ELISA 测定血清 zonulin、抗麦胶蛋白 IgA 和 IgG、IL6、TNF-α、TGF-β、S100B 和 NSE 水平。
ASD 组的血清 zonulin 水平明显较低。ASD 组的 IL-6 和 TGF-β明显较高。两组血清抗麦胶蛋白 IgA 和 IgG 以及 TNF-α值无差异。此外，两组的 GIS 症状、NSE 和 S100B 水平相似。
尽管本研究发现 ASD 存在低 zonulin 水平和炎症过程增加的发现，但脑损伤的参数无差异。这些发现表明 ASD 中肠通透性没有降低，炎症过程可能在 ASD 中发挥作用。
