Abstract
Many factors have been implicated in autism onset, including excess or deficiency in toxic or essential metals and impaired antioxidant systems. Protection towards the damaging effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is afforded by antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, SOD, catalase, CAT, glutathione peroxidase, GPx), and non-enzymatic antioxidants such as metallothionein (MT). In blood samples from autistic children and healthy controls, three aspects were investigated: (i) the plasma concentration of 13 metals (Al, As, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Si, Zn) was measured by ICP-AES; (ii) the transcription of three MT isoforms (MT-1A, MT-1E and MT-2A) was assessed by real-time RT-PCR in peripheral blood leucocytes (PBMCs); (iii) the activity of SOD, CAT and GPx was assessed by spectrophotometric assays in red blood cells (RBCs). Autistic children showed significantly higher plasma levels of Zn, Ca, Fe, As, Ni, Cd and Si, higher mRNA expression of the MT isoforms in PBMCs, higher SOD activity and lower CAT activity in RBCs with respect to controls. These findings demonstrate a significant increase in both metal content and metallothionein expression together with an unbalance in the oxidative status in the blood of autistic children.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 286-293 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders |
| Volume | 5 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2011 |
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Keywords
- Autistic spectrum disorders
- Blood
- Metallothionein
- Metals
- Oxidative stress
- Real-time RT-PCR
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Clinical Psychology
- Developmental and Educational Psychology
Cite this
Metals, metallothioneins and oxidative stress in blood of autistic children. / Vergani, Laura; Cristina, Lanza; Paola, Rivaro; Luisa, Abelmoschi M.; Shyti, Genti; Edvige, Veneselli; Giuseppe, Minniti; Elena, Grasselli; Laura, Canesi; Adriana, Voci.
In: Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, Vol. 5, No. 1, 01.2011, p. 286-293.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Metals, metallothioneins and oxidative stress in blood of autistic children
AU - Vergani, Laura
AU - Cristina, Lanza
AU - Paola, Rivaro
AU - Luisa, Abelmoschi M.
AU - Shyti, Genti
AU - Edvige, Veneselli
AU - Giuseppe, Minniti
AU - Elena, Grasselli
AU - Laura, Canesi
AU - Adriana, Voci
PY - 2011/1
Y1 - 2011/1
N2 - Many factors have been implicated in autism onset, including excess or deficiency in toxic or essential metals and impaired antioxidant systems. Protection towards the damaging effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is afforded by antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, SOD, catalase, CAT, glutathione peroxidase, GPx), and non-enzymatic antioxidants such as metallothionein (MT). In blood samples from autistic children and healthy controls, three aspects were investigated: (i) the plasma concentration of 13 metals (Al, As, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Si, Zn) was measured by ICP-AES; (ii) the transcription of three MT isoforms (MT-1A, MT-1E and MT-2A) was assessed by real-time RT-PCR in peripheral blood leucocytes (PBMCs); (iii) the activity of SOD, CAT and GPx was assessed by spectrophotometric assays in red blood cells (RBCs). Autistic children showed significantly higher plasma levels of Zn, Ca, Fe, As, Ni, Cd and Si, higher mRNA expression of the MT isoforms in PBMCs, higher SOD activity and lower CAT activity in RBCs with respect to controls. These findings demonstrate a significant increase in both metal content and metallothionein expression together with an unbalance in the oxidative status in the blood of autistic children.
AB - Many factors have been implicated in autism onset, including excess or deficiency in toxic or essential metals and impaired antioxidant systems. Protection towards the damaging effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is afforded by antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, SOD, catalase, CAT, glutathione peroxidase, GPx), and non-enzymatic antioxidants such as metallothionein (MT). In blood samples from autistic children and healthy controls, three aspects were investigated: (i) the plasma concentration of 13 metals (Al, As, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Si, Zn) was measured by ICP-AES; (ii) the transcription of three MT isoforms (MT-1A, MT-1E and MT-2A) was assessed by real-time RT-PCR in peripheral blood leucocytes (PBMCs); (iii) the activity of SOD, CAT and GPx was assessed by spectrophotometric assays in red blood cells (RBCs). Autistic children showed significantly higher plasma levels of Zn, Ca, Fe, As, Ni, Cd and Si, higher mRNA expression of the MT isoforms in PBMCs, higher SOD activity and lower CAT activity in RBCs with respect to controls. These findings demonstrate a significant increase in both metal content and metallothionein expression together with an unbalance in the oxidative status in the blood of autistic children.
KW - Autistic spectrum disorders
KW - Blood
KW - Metallothionein
KW - Metals
KW - Oxidative stress
KW - Real-time RT-PCR
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77957332679&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77957332679&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.rasd.2010.04.010
DO - 10.1016/j.rasd.2010.04.010
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:77957332679
VL - 5
SP - 286
EP - 293
JO - Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders
JF - Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders
SN - 1750-9467
IS - 1
ER -