Plasma Levels of Glial Cell Marker S100B in Children With Autism

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition with increasing incidence. Recent evidences suggest glial cells involvement in autism pathophysiology. S100B is a calcium binding protein, mainly found in astrocytes and therefore used as a marker of their activity. In our study, children with autism had higher plasma concentrations of S100B compared to non-autistic controls. No association of S100B plasma levels with behavioral symptoms (ADI-R and ADOS-2 scales) was found. Plasma S100B concentration significantly correlated with urine serotonin, suggesting their interconnection. Correlation of plasma S100B levels with stool calprotectin concentrations was found, suggesting not only brain astrocytes, but also enteric glial cells may take part in autism pathogenesis. Based on our findings, S100B seems to have a potential to be used as a biomarker of human neurodevelopmental disorders, but more investigations are needed to clarify its exact role in pathomechanism of autism.

Peripheral Blood S100B Levels in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…The included studies were published from 2012 to 2019 (Abou-Donia et al 2019 ; Al-Ayadhi and Mostafa 2012 ; Ayaydin and Kirmit 2020 ; Esnafoglu et al 2017 ; Guloksuz et al 2017 ; Ma et al 2019 ; Peng and Zhu 2017 ; Shaker et al 2016 ; Tomova et al 2019 ; Zhou 2015 ) (Table 1 ). Ten studies encompassed 822 participants and 451 cases.…”

“…Three studies were performed in China (Ma et al 2019 ; Peng and Zhu 2017 ; Zhou 2015 ), three in Turkey (Ayaydin and Kirmit 2020 ; Esnafoglu et al 2017 ; Guloksuz et al 2017 ), one in the USA (Abou-Donia et al 2019 ), one in Saudi Arabia (Al-Ayadhi and Mostafa 2012 ), one in Egypt (Shaker et al 2016 ), and one in the Slovak Republic (Tomova et al 2019 ). The sample sizes ranged from 10 (Abou-Donia et al 2019 ) to 89 (Tomova et al 2019 ). The mean age of participants varied from 1.8 (Peng and Zhu 2017 ) to 18 (Abou-Donia et al 2019 ) years old.…”

“…The mean S100B values of cases ranged from 0.36 ± 0.19 pg/ml (Abou-Donia et al 2019 ) to 298,630 ± 161,140 pg/ml (Ma et al 2019 ). Two different biomaterials for S100B assays were used in this systematic review: serum (Abou-Donia et al 2019 ; Al-Ayadhi and Mostafa 2012 ; Ayaydin and Kirmit 2020 ; Esnafoglu et al 2017 ; Ma et al 2019 ; Peng and Zhu 2017 ; Shake 2016 ; Zhou 2015 ) and plasma (Guloksuz et al 2017 ; Tomova et al 2019 ). Moreover, 9 studies performed S100B assessment using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (Al-Ayadhi and Mostafa 2012 ; Ayaydin and Kirmit 2020 ; Esnafoglu et al 2017 ; Guloksuz et al 2017 ; Ma et al 2019 ; Peng and Zhu 2017 ; Shaker et al 2016 ; Tomova et al 2019 ; Zhou 2015 ) as an analytical procedure, whereas 1 adopted Western blot (WB) (Abou-Donia et al 2019 ).…”

“…Two different biomaterials for S100B assays were used in this systematic review: serum (Abou-Donia et al 2019 ; Al-Ayadhi and Mostafa 2012 ; Ayaydin and Kirmit 2020 ; Esnafoglu et al 2017 ; Ma et al 2019 ; Peng and Zhu 2017 ; Shake 2016 ; Zhou 2015 ) and plasma (Guloksuz et al 2017 ; Tomova et al 2019 ). Moreover, 9 studies performed S100B assessment using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (Al-Ayadhi and Mostafa 2012 ; Ayaydin and Kirmit 2020 ; Esnafoglu et al 2017 ; Guloksuz et al 2017 ; Ma et al 2019 ; Peng and Zhu 2017 ; Shaker et al 2016 ; Tomova et al 2019 ; Zhou 2015 ) as an analytical procedure, whereas 1 adopted Western blot (WB) (Abou-Donia et al 2019 ). In addition, ten studies considered gender and age as adjusted confounders (Abou-Donia et al 2019 ; Al-Ayadhi and Mostafa 2012 ; Ayaydin and Kirmit 2020 ; Esnafoglu et al 2017 ; Guloksuz et al 2017 ; Ma et al 2019 ; Peng and Zhu 2017 ; Shaker et al 2016 ; Tomova et al 2019 ; Zhou 2015 ).…”

“…The included studies were published from 2012 to 2019 Egypt (Shaker et al 2016), and one in the Slovak Republic (Tomova et al 2019). The sample sizes ranged from 10 (Abou-Donia et al 2019) to 89 (Tomova et al 2019). The mean age of participants varied from 1.8 (Peng and Zhu 2017) to 18 (Abou-Donia et al 2019) years old.…”