Serum Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor levels in Chinese children with autism spectrum disorders: A pilot study

Abstract

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of Autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential role of BDNF in Chinese children with ASD. Sixty patients (48 male, 12 female) diagnosed with ASD and 60 healthy sex and age control subjects were assessed for serum BDNF content at admission. BDNF were assayed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods, and severity of ASD was evaluated with the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) Score. The results indicated that the median serum BDNF levels were significantly (P<0.0001) higher in children with ASD as compared to normal cases [17.6(IQR: 13.7-21.4) ng/ml and 11.5(9.6-13.8) ng/ml, respectively]. Based on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the optimal cut-off value of serum BDNF levels as an indicator for auxiliary diagnosis of autism was projected to be 15.0 ng/ml. Further, we found that an increased risk of ASD was associated with BDNF levels >15.0 ng/ml (adjusted OR 10.4, 95% CI: 4.39-29.32) after adjusting for above possible confounders. Our study demonstrated that serum BDNF levels were associated with ASD, and higher levels could be considered as an independent risk factor of ASD.

Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in childhood

“…This is consistent with some earlier reported studies. 6,9,10,17 There have been controversies in regard to which role BDNF plays in the etiology of autism and whether the BDNF has any influence. Thus, some studies show higher level of BDNF among autistic patients compared to controls, 10,17e19 whereas others demonstrate reduced BDNF in ASD patients 12,14,20,22 or no differences at all.…”

Increased serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in autism spectrum disorder

“…Interestingly, Mansour et al [15] showed that there was no statistically significant difference between patients and control groups in BDNF concentration values (P > 0.05) and Hashimoto et al [11] found that the serum levels of BDNF in patients with autism were significantly (Z = − 4.42, P <0.001) lower than those of normal controls. Differences in the assay and sample test methods, analytic platforms used, and patient populations may explain the inconsistencies among studies [16]. In addition, the antibodies used for capture and detection in the various assays may have influenced the results.…”

Altered Expression Levels of Neurodevelopmental Proteins in Fetal Brains of BTBR T+tf/J Mice with Autism-Like Behavioral Characteristics

“…Certain proteins expressed in brain including BDNF, MBP, GFAP, and NGF may be targets for pathogenesis of ASD since elevated levels of serum antibodies to these proteins were frequently reported in autistic subjects (Croen et al, 2008;Geschwind, 2009;Kirkman et al, 2008;Stigler et al, 2009;Zhang et al, 2014). Accumulation of autoantibodies to brain proteins in fetal brain could interfere with fetal brain development, which has been addressed in association with ASD (Nordahl et al, 2013;Rossi et al, 2011;Singer et al, 2008).…”

“…BDNF, a member of the neurotrophin family, plays a critical role in growth, development, maintenance, or function of neuronal systems (Grantyn et al, 2011). Many investigators reported higher serum BDNF levels in ASD subjects than controls, but some studies found no marked differences in serum BDNF levels between the ASD subjects and control (Croen et al, 2008;Stigler et al, 2009;Zhang et al, 2014). This inconsistency may be derived from (1) classification of ASD and control subjects, (2) difference in analysis method, or (3) age of subjects at the time of blood collection.…”

“…BDNF is a neurotrophic factor found in CNS and contributes to development of brain through supporting survival and growth of dopaminergic neurons (Abou-Donia et al, 2013;Croen et al, 2008;Weidner et al, 2014;Zhang et al, 2014). Myelin basic protein is an important protein mediating myelination of nerves in the CNS and peripheral nervous system Miller et al, 2013;Mostafa and Al-Ayadhi, 2011).…”