Cord and Early Childhood Plasma Adiponectin Levels and Autism Risk: A Prospective Birth Cohort Study

doi:10.1007/s10803-018-3688-5

. 2019 Jan;49(1):173-184.

doi: 10.1007/s10803-018-3688-5.

Cord and Early Childhood Plasma Adiponectin Levels and Autism Risk: A Prospective Birth Cohort Study

Ramkripa Raghavan¹, M Daniele Fallin², Xiumei Hong¹, Guoying Wang¹, Yuelong Ji¹, Elizabeth A Stuart^{2

3}, David Paige⁴, Xiaobin Wang^{5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Center on the Early Life Origins of Disease, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205-2179, USA.
² Wendy Klag Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities & Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
³ Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
⁴ Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205-2179, USA.
⁵ Center on the Early Life Origins of Disease, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205-2179, USA. xwang82@jhu.edu.
⁶ Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205-2179, USA. xwang82@jhu.edu.

PMID: 30043356
PMCID: PMC6424579
DOI: 10.1007/s10803-018-3688-5

Cord and Early Childhood Plasma Adiponectin Levels and Autism Risk: A Prospective Birth Cohort Study

Ramkripa Raghavan et al. J Autism Dev Disord. 2019 Jan.

. 2019 Jan;49(1):173-184.

doi: 10.1007/s10803-018-3688-5.

Authors

Ramkripa Raghavan¹, M Daniele Fallin², Xiumei Hong¹, Guoying Wang¹, Yuelong Ji¹, Elizabeth A Stuart^{2

3}, David Paige⁴, Xiaobin Wang^{5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Center on the Early Life Origins of Disease, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205-2179, USA.
² Wendy Klag Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities & Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
³ Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
⁴ Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205-2179, USA.
⁵ Center on the Early Life Origins of Disease, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205-2179, USA. xwang82@jhu.edu.
⁶ Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205-2179, USA. xwang82@jhu.edu.

PMID: 30043356
PMCID: PMC6424579
DOI: 10.1007/s10803-018-3688-5

Abstract

Emerging research suggests that adiponectin, a cytokine produced by adipose tissue, may be implicated in ASD. In this prospective birth cohort study (n = 847), we assessed the association between cord, early childhood plasma adiponectin and the risk of developing ASD. ASD was defined based on ICD codes of physician diagnosis. Cord adiponectin levels were inversely associated with ASD risk (aOR 0.50; 95% CI 0.33, 0.77), independent of preterm birth, early childhood adiponectin and other known ASD risk factors. Early childhood adiponectin, assessed prior to ASD diagnosis, was associated with lower risk of ASD, which attenuated after adjusting for cord adiponectin, indicating the relative importance of cord adiponectin in ASD risk. Further research is warranted to confirm our findings and elucidate biological mechanisms.

Keywords: Adiponectin; Autism; Cytokines; Preterm birth.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None of the authors have a conflict of interest pertaining to this work.

Figures

**Fig 1.**
Distribution of plasma adiponectin levels (μg/mL) in cord blood (panel A) and in early childhood venous blood (panel B), stratified by preterm status in the Boston Birth Cohort (Total n for cord adiponectin =674; Total n for early childhood adiponectin= 638)

**Fig 2.**
Distribution of plasma adiponectin levels (μg/mL) in cord blood (panel A) and in early childhood venous blood (panel B), stratified by neurotypical children vs. those with ASD in the Boston Birth Cohort (Total n for cord adiponectin =674; Total n for early childhood adiponectin= 638)

See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

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[1] Akintunde ME, Rose M, Krakowiak P, Heuer L, Ashwood P, Hansen R, et al. (2015). Increased production of IL-17 in children with autism spectrum disorders and co-morbid asthma. J Neuroimmunol, 286, 33–41, doi:10.1016/j.jneuroim.2015.07.003. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[2] Akintunde ME, Rose M, Krakowiak P, Heuer L, Ashwood P, Hansen R, et al. (2015). Increased production of IL-17 in children with autism spectrum disorders and co-morbid asthma. J Neuroimmunol, 286, 33–41, doi:10.1016/j.jneuroim.2015.07.003. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[3] Al-Zaid FS, Alhader AA, & Al-Ayadhi LY (2014). Altered ghrelin levels in boys with autism: a novel finding associated with hormonal dysregulation. Sci Rep, 4, 6478, doi:10.1038/srep06478. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[4] Al-Zaid FS, Alhader AA, & Al-Ayadhi LY (2014). Altered ghrelin levels in boys with autism: a novel finding associated with hormonal dysregulation. Sci Rep, 4, 6478, doi:10.1038/srep06478. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[5] Angelidou A, Asadi S, Alysandratos KD, Karagkouni A, Kourembanas S, & Theoharides TC (2012). Perinatal stress, brain inflammation and risk of autism-review and proposal. BMC Pediatr, 12, 89, doi:10.1186/1471-2431-12-89. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[6] Angelidou A, Asadi S, Alysandratos KD, Karagkouni A, Kourembanas S, & Theoharides TC (2012). Perinatal stress, brain inflammation and risk of autism-review and proposal. BMC Pediatr, 12, 89, doi:10.1186/1471-2431-12-89. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[7] Ashwood P, Krakowiak P, Hertz-Picciotto I, Hansen R, Pessah I, & Van de Water J (2011). Elevated plasma cytokines in autism spectrum disorders provide evidence of immune dysfunction and are associated with impaired behavioral outcome. Brain Behav Immun, 25(1), 40–45, doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2010.08.003. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[8] Ashwood P, Krakowiak P, Hertz-Picciotto I, Hansen R, Pessah I, & Van de Water J (2011). Elevated plasma cytokines in autism spectrum disorders provide evidence of immune dysfunction and are associated with impaired behavioral outcome. Brain Behav Immun, 25(1), 40–45, doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2010.08.003. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[9] Ashwood P, Kwong C, Hansen R, Hertz-Picciotto I, Croen L, Krakowiak P, et al. (2008). Brief report: plasma leptin levels are elevated in autism: association with early onset phenotype? J Autism Dev Disord, 38(1), 169–175, doi:10.1007/s10803-006-0353-1. - DOI - PubMed

[10] Ashwood P, Kwong C, Hansen R, Hertz-Picciotto I, Croen L, Krakowiak P, et al. (2008). Brief report: plasma leptin levels are elevated in autism: association with early onset phenotype? J Autism Dev Disord, 38(1), 169–175, doi:10.1007/s10803-006-0353-1. - DOI - PubMed

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Cord and Early Childhood Plasma Adiponectin Levels and Autism Risk: A Prospective Birth Cohort Study

Affiliations

Cord and Early Childhood Plasma Adiponectin Levels and Autism Risk: A Prospective Birth Cohort Study

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Conflict of interest statement

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