glutamate: Increased serum levels of high mobility group box 1 protein in patients with autistic disorder.

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.. Increased serum levels of high mobility group box 1 protein in

patients with autistic disorder.

Emanuele E, Boso M, Brondino N, Pietra S, Barale F, di Nemi SU, Politi P.

Department of Health Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of

Pavia, Via Bassi, 21, I-27100, Pavia, Italy.

Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2010 Mar 16. [Epub ahead of

print]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20302902

BACKGROUND: High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a highly conserved,

ubiquitous protein that functions as an activator for inducing the

immune response and can be released from neurons after glutamate

excitotoxicity. The objective of the present study was to measure serum

levels of HMGB1 in patients with autistic disorder and to study their

relationship with clinical characteristics. METHODS: We enrolled 22

adult patients with autistic disorder (mean age: 28.1+/-7.7years) and 28

age- and gender-matched healthy controls (mean age: 28.7+/-8.1years).

Serum levels of HMGB1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

(ELISA). RESULTS: Compared with healthy subjects, serum levels of HMGB1

were significantly higher in patients with autistic disorder

(10.8+/-2.6ng/mL versus 5.6+/-2.5ng/mL, respectively, P<0.001). After

adjustment for potential confounders, serum HMGB1 levels were

independently associated with their domain A scores in the Autism

Diagnostic Interview-Revised, which reflects their impairments in social

interaction. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that HMGB1 levels may be

affected in autistic disorder. Increased HMGB1 may be a biological

correlate of the impaired reciprocal social interactions in this

neurodevelopmental disorder. Copyright © 2010. Published by Elsevier Inc.