Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone and interleukin-8 levels in boys with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

BackgroundAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects approximately 1 in 68 children in the USA. An ASD blood biomarker may enable early diagnosis and/or identification of new therapeutic targets. Serum samples from ASD and typically developing (TD) boys (n = 30/group) were screened for differences in 110 proteins using a multiplex immunoassay.ResultsEleven proteins were found that together could confirm ASD with modest accuracy using multiple training and test sets. Two of the 11 proteins identified here were further tested using a different detection platform and with a larger sample of ASD and TD boys. The two proteins, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and interleukin-8 (IL-8), have been previously identified as putative biomarkers for ASD. TSH levels were significantly lower in ASD boys, whereas IL-8 levels were significantly elevated. The diagnostic accuracy for ASD based upon TSH or IL-8 levels alone varied from 74 to 76%, but using both proteins together, the diagnostic accuracy increased to 82%. In addition, TSH levels were negatively correlated with the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule subdomain scores.ConclusionsThese data suggest that a panel of proteins may be useful as a putative blood biomarker for ASD.

Autism spectrum disorder: advances in diagnosis and evaluation

“…This is also true for recent studies examining metabolomics,6162 markers of inflammation63 and oxidative stress,64 and salivary proteomics 65. Such findings cannot be readily generalized to early detection because biomarkers generally reflect dynamic processes that change over the course of development.…”

Environmental Signals on Microglial Function during Brain Development, Neuroplasticity, and Disease

“…Throughout life, environmental factors or stressful conditions, such as trauma or infections [29], hormonal imbalance [30], diet [31], and alcohol abuse [32], in early stages of development are related to synaptic disorders and increased risk for disease emergence. Importantly, all the above environmental impacts have already been demonstrated as modulators of the immune system, specifically modifying the microglial phenotype and function at the beginning of development.…”

Immunoexcitotoxicity as the central mechanism of etiopathology and treatment of autism spectrum disorders: A possible role of fluoride and aluminum

“…Thyroid dysfunction is frequently found in children with ASD. [ 92 105 107 177 232 ] Significantly reduced levels of TSH in ASD have been observed by Hashimoto and colleagues, where they examined 41 ASD boys (average age of 5.7 years) compared to 5 typically-developing (TD) boys. [ 105 ] Reduced levels of TSH were also observed in blood spots from infants who later were found to have ASD ( n = 16 ASD and n = 32 TD); gender not reported), suggesting that TSH levels may be useful as an early biomarker for ASD.…”

“…TSH levels were also significantly lower in 30 boys with ASD in comparison with and 30 TD typically-developing boys, ages 2–8 years. [ 232 ] Recently, Frye et al . measured blocking and binding folate receptor autoantibodies (FRAAs) and TSH, FT4, total T3, thyroid-releasing hormone and other metabolites in 87 children with ASD, 84 of whom also underwent behavior and cognition testing and in 42 of whom FRAAs, TSH and FT4 were measured at prenatal and postnatal periods.…”