Abstract
Oxidative stress and abnormal DNA methylation have been implicated in the pathophysiology of autism. We investigated the dynamics of an integrated metabolic pathway essential for cellular antioxidant and methylation capacity in 68 children with autism, 54 age-matched control children and 40 unaffected siblings. The metabolic profile of unaffected siblings differed significantly from case siblings but not from controls. Oxidative protein/DNA damage and DNA hypomethylation (epigenetic alteration) were found in autistic children but not paired siblings or controls. These data indicate that the deficit in antioxidant and methylation capacity is specific for autism and may promote cellular damage and altered epigenetic gene expression. Further, these results suggest a plausible mechanism by which pro-oxidant environmental stressors may modulate genetic predisposition to autism.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 367-377 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders |
Volume | 42 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2012 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Acknowledgments The authors would like to express their gratitude to the families in Arkansas affected by autism whose participation made this study possible. We also acknowledge the invaluable help of the nurses and clinicians at the Dennis Developmental Center for referral and evaluation. This research was supported, in part, with funding from the National Institute of Child Health and Development (RO1 HD051873; SJJ), the Department of Defense (AS073218P1; SJJ) and by grants from the Arkansas Children’s Hospital and Arkansas Biosciences Institute (SJJ).
Keywords
- Autism
- DNA methylation
- Epigenetics
- Glutathione
- Metabolic
- Oxidative stress
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Developmental and Educational Psychology