Abstract
Background: The identification of an early biomarker for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) would improve the determination of risk, leading to earlier diagnosis and, potentially, earlier intervention and improved outcomes. Methods: Data were generated from the Early Markers for Autism study, a population-based case-control study of prenatal and neonatal biomarkers of ASD. Newborn bloodspots of children with ASD (n = 370), children with developmental delay (n = 140), and general population (GP) controls (n = 378) were analyzed for 42 different immune markers using a Luminex multiplex platform. Comparisons of immune marker concentrations between groups were examined using logistic regression and partial least squares discriminant analysis. Results: Children with ASD had significantly increased neonatal levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8 compared with GP controls. An increase in IL-8 was especially significant in the ASD group with early onset compared with the GP group, with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.97 (95% confidence interval, 1.39–2.83; p = .00014). In addition, children with ASD had significantly elevated levels of eotaxin-1, interferon-γ, and IL-12p70 relative to children with developmental delay. We observed no significant differences in levels of immune markers between the developmental delay and GP groups. Conclusions: Elevated levels of some inflammatory markers in newborn bloodspots indicated a higher degree of immune activation at birth in children who were subsequently diagnosed with ASD. The data from this exploratory study suggest that with further expansion, the development of neonatal bloodspot testing for cytokine/chemokine levels might lead to the identification of biomarkers that provide an accurate assessment of ASD risk at birth.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Journal | Biological Psychiatry |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2019 |
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Keywords
- Autism
- Bloodspot
- Chemokine
- Cytokine
- Developmental delay
- Neonatal
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biological Psychiatry
Cite this
An Exploratory Examination of Neonatal Cytokines and Chemokines as Predictors of Autism Risk : The Early Markers for Autism Study. / Heuer, Luke S.; Croen, Lisa A.; Jones, Karen L.; Yoshida, Cathleen K.; Hansen, Robin L; Yolken, Robert; Zerbo, Ousseny; DeLorenze, Gerald; Kharrazi, Martin; Ashwood, Paul; Van de Water, Judith A.
In: Biological Psychiatry, 01.01.2019.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - An Exploratory Examination of Neonatal Cytokines and Chemokines as Predictors of Autism Risk
T2 - The Early Markers for Autism Study
AU - Heuer, Luke S.
AU - Croen, Lisa A.
AU - Jones, Karen L.
AU - Yoshida, Cathleen K.
AU - Hansen, Robin L
AU - Yolken, Robert
AU - Zerbo, Ousseny
AU - DeLorenze, Gerald
AU - Kharrazi, Martin
AU - Ashwood, Paul
AU - Van de Water, Judith A
PY - 2019/1/1
Y1 - 2019/1/1
N2 - Background: The identification of an early biomarker for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) would improve the determination of risk, leading to earlier diagnosis and, potentially, earlier intervention and improved outcomes. Methods: Data were generated from the Early Markers for Autism study, a population-based case-control study of prenatal and neonatal biomarkers of ASD. Newborn bloodspots of children with ASD (n = 370), children with developmental delay (n = 140), and general population (GP) controls (n = 378) were analyzed for 42 different immune markers using a Luminex multiplex platform. Comparisons of immune marker concentrations between groups were examined using logistic regression and partial least squares discriminant analysis. Results: Children with ASD had significantly increased neonatal levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8 compared with GP controls. An increase in IL-8 was especially significant in the ASD group with early onset compared with the GP group, with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.97 (95% confidence interval, 1.39–2.83; p = .00014). In addition, children with ASD had significantly elevated levels of eotaxin-1, interferon-γ, and IL-12p70 relative to children with developmental delay. We observed no significant differences in levels of immune markers between the developmental delay and GP groups. Conclusions: Elevated levels of some inflammatory markers in newborn bloodspots indicated a higher degree of immune activation at birth in children who were subsequently diagnosed with ASD. The data from this exploratory study suggest that with further expansion, the development of neonatal bloodspot testing for cytokine/chemokine levels might lead to the identification of biomarkers that provide an accurate assessment of ASD risk at birth.
AB - Background: The identification of an early biomarker for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) would improve the determination of risk, leading to earlier diagnosis and, potentially, earlier intervention and improved outcomes. Methods: Data were generated from the Early Markers for Autism study, a population-based case-control study of prenatal and neonatal biomarkers of ASD. Newborn bloodspots of children with ASD (n = 370), children with developmental delay (n = 140), and general population (GP) controls (n = 378) were analyzed for 42 different immune markers using a Luminex multiplex platform. Comparisons of immune marker concentrations between groups were examined using logistic regression and partial least squares discriminant analysis. Results: Children with ASD had significantly increased neonatal levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8 compared with GP controls. An increase in IL-8 was especially significant in the ASD group with early onset compared with the GP group, with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.97 (95% confidence interval, 1.39–2.83; p = .00014). In addition, children with ASD had significantly elevated levels of eotaxin-1, interferon-γ, and IL-12p70 relative to children with developmental delay. We observed no significant differences in levels of immune markers between the developmental delay and GP groups. Conclusions: Elevated levels of some inflammatory markers in newborn bloodspots indicated a higher degree of immune activation at birth in children who were subsequently diagnosed with ASD. The data from this exploratory study suggest that with further expansion, the development of neonatal bloodspot testing for cytokine/chemokine levels might lead to the identification of biomarkers that provide an accurate assessment of ASD risk at birth.
KW - Autism
KW - Bloodspot
KW - Chemokine
KW - Cytokine
KW - Developmental delay
KW - Neonatal
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85068237888&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85068237888&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.04.037
DO - 10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.04.037
M3 - Article
C2 - 31279535
AN - SCOPUS:85068237888
JO - Biological Psychiatry
JF - Biological Psychiatry
SN - 0006-3223
ER -