Increased CNTF levels in adults with autism spectrum disorders

Brondino, Natascia; Rocchetti, Matteo; Fusar-Poli, Laura; Damiani, Stefano; Goggi, Arianna; Chiodelli, Giuseppe; Corti, Serafino; Visai, Livia; Politi, Pierluigi

doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.6445148.v1

iwbp_a_1481999_sm2002.docx (20.77 kB)

Increased CNTF levels in adults with autism spectrum disorders

journal contribution

posted on 2018-06-05, 10:08 authored by Natascia Brondino, Matteo Rocchetti, Laura Fusar-Poli, Stefano Damiani, Arianna Goggi, Giuseppe Chiodelli, Serafino Corti, Livia Visai, Pierluigi Politi

Objectives: Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is a neurotrophin which could signal neuronal suffering and at the same time acts as a neuroprotective agent. In the present study we aimed to evaluate CNTF serum levels in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). In fact, considering the role of CNTF as a neuronal damage signal and the role of neuroinflammation, excito-inhibitory imbalance and excitotoxicity in the pathogenesis of ASDs, a possible alteration of CNTF in ASDs could be hypothesised.

Methods: We recruited 23 individuals with ASDs and intellectual disability (ID), 20 ID subjects and 26 typical adults. A complete medical and psychopathological characterisation of the participants was performed. CNTF serum levels were measured with ELISA.

Results: CNTF serum levels were significantly higher in the ASD + ID group compared to ID (p < .001) or typically developed subjects (p < .001).

Conclusions: CNTF may be considered as a potential biomarker candidate for ASDs in the context of severe ID. Our results support the hypothesis of neurotrophic imbalance in ASDs.