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Understanding the roles of glutamine synthetase, glutaminase, and glutamate decarboxylase autoantibodies in imbalanced excitatory/inhibitory neurotransmission as etiological mechanisms of autism
Author(s) -
Hamed Najat O.,
AlAyadhi Laila,
Osman Mohamed A.,
Elkhawad Abdalla O.,
Qasem Hanan,
AlMarshoud Majida,
Merghani Nada M.,
ElAnsary Afaf
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1819
pISSN - 1323-1316
DOI - 10.1111/pcn.12639
Subject(s) - glutamate decarboxylase , glutaminase , autism , glutamate receptor , glutamine , neurodevelopmental disorder , glutamine synthetase , autism spectrum disorder , autoantibody , etiology , neuroscience , enzyme , medicine , psychology , biology , biochemistry , psychiatry , immunology , antibody , amino acid , receptor
Aim Autism is a heterogeneous neurological disorder that is characterized by impairments in communication and social interactions, repetitive behaviors, and sensory abnormalities. The etiology of autism remains unclear. Animal, genetic, and post‐mortem studies suggest that an imbalance exists in the neuronal excitation and inhibition system in autism. The aim of this study was to determine whether alterations of the measured parameters in children with autism are significantly associated with the risk of a sensory dysfunction. Methods The glutamine synthetase (GS), kidney‐type glutaminase (GLS1), and glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibody levels were analyzed in 38 autistic children and 33 age‐ and sex‐matched controls using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. Results The obtained data demonstrated significant alterations in glutamate and glutamine cycle enzymes, as represented by GS and GLS1, respectively. While the glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies levels were remarkably increased, no significant difference was observed compared to the healthy control participants. Conclusion The obtained data indicate that GS and GLS1 are promising indicators of a neuronal excitation and inhibition system imbalance and that combined measured parameters are good predictive biomarkers of autism.