Neuroimmunology Department, International Center for Neurological Restoration, Havana, Cuba.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada.
Sci Rep. 2022 Aug 12;12(1):13768. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-17503-6.
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) promote the development and maintenance of neural circuits. Alterations in these factors might contribute to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We asked whether serum BDNF, proBDNF, and IGF-1 levels are altered in an ASD population compared to controls. We measured serum BDNF, proBDNF, and IGF-1 immunoreactive protein in boys and girls aged 5-15 years old with mild to moderate ASD and non-autistic controls by ELISA. IGF-1 was increased in ASD serum compared to controls and was correlated with age and with CARS scores. Serum BDNF levels did not differ between groups, however, proBDNF serum levels were decreased in subjects with ASD compared to non-autistic controls. Medicated, but not unmedicated, ASD subjects exhibited lower serum proBDNF levels compared to controls, while neither IGF-1 nor BDNF levels differed between treatment groups. These data support the involvement of proBDNF and IGF-1 in the pathogenesis and treatment of autism.
脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）和胰岛素样生长因子 1（IGF-1）促进神经回路的发育和维持。这些因素的改变可能与自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）有关。我们想知道与对照组相比，ASD 人群的血清 BDNF、proBDNF 和 IGF-1 水平是否发生了改变。我们通过 ELISA 测量了年龄在 5-15 岁的轻度至中度 ASD 男孩和女孩以及非自闭症对照组的血清 BDNF、proBDNF 和 IGF-1 免疫反应性蛋白。与对照组相比，ASD 患者的血清 IGF-1 增加，并且与年龄和 CARS 评分相关。两组之间血清 BDNF 水平没有差异，但是，与非自闭症对照组相比，ASD 患者的血清 proBDNF 水平降低。与对照组相比，接受药物治疗但未接受药物治疗的 ASD 患者的血清 proBDNF 水平较低，而 IGF-1 和 BDNF 水平在治疗组之间没有差异。这些数据支持 proBDNF 和 IGF-1 参与自闭症的发病机制和治疗。
