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. 2021;30(2):160-167.
doi: 10.1159/000513935. Epub 2020 Dec 21.

Plasma Levels of Alpha and Gamma Synucleins in Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Indicator of Severity

Sarah Al-Mazidi  1 , Laila Y Al-Ayadhi  2   3
Affiliations

Plasma Levels of Alpha and Gamma Synucleins in Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Indicator of Severity

Sarah Al-Mazidi et al. Med Princ Pract. 2021.

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to correlate plasma levels of the synaptic proteins α-synuclein and γ-synuclein in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) children in order to elucidate their possible contribution to the pathogenesis of ASD and to study their association with the severity of the disorder.

Subjects and methods: Plasma levels of α-synuclein and γ-synuclein were measured in 38 male children diagnosed with ASD and 40 healthy age-matched male children by ELISA.

Results: Our results showed that plasma levels of α-synuclein (18.02 ± 5.3 pg/mL) were significantly higher in ASD children than in control children (14.39 ± 2 pg/mL), and plasma levels of γ-synuclein were decreased in the ASD group (23.74 ± 7.7 pg/mL) compared to the control group (32.40 ± 6.8 pg/mL) (p < 0.0001). Our data also indicate that plasma levels of both α-synuclein and γ-synuclein are significantly associated with the severity of ASD.

Conclusions: Our study showed that alteration in α-synuclein and γ-synuclein might be associated with ASD pathogenesis and could be an indicator of the severity of the disorder.

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Neurology; Physiology; Psychiatry.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report having no biomedical financial interests. This disclosure includes direct or indirect financial or personal relationships, interests, and affiliations relevant to the subject matter of the manuscript that have occurred over the last 2 years or that are expected in the foreseeable future. This disclosure includes, but is not limited to, grants or funding, employment, affiliations, patents (in preparation, filed, or granted), inventions, honoraria, consultancies, royalties, stock options/ownership, or expert testimony. Also, the authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Plasma levels of α-synuclein and γ-synuclein in the ASD group and control group. a Plasma level of α-synuclein in the ASD group was significantly higher than in the control group. b Plasma level of γ-synuclein in the ASD group was significantly lower than in the control group. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001. ASD, autism spectrum disorder.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
a, b Change in plasma levels of α-synuclein and γ-synuclein in the ASD group with different age subgroups. a Plasma level of α-synuclein in the ASD group in different age subgroups compared to their age-matched control groups. b Plasma level of γ-synuclein in the ASD group in different age subgroups compared to their age-matched control groups. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001. C, control group, ASD, autism spectrum disorder group.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
a–f Correlating plasma levels of α-synuclein and γ-synuclein in ASD subgroups. a–c Correlating plasma levels of α-synuclein with CARS, SRS, and SSP scores in ASD subgroups and the control group. d–f Correlating plasma levels of γ-synuclein with CARS, SRS, and SSP scores in ASD subgroups and the control group. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001. ASD, autism spectrum disorder; CARS, childhood autism rating score; SSP, short sensory profile; SRS, social responsiveness scale.
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