Inhibiting proBDNF to mature BDNF conversion leads to ASD-like phenotypes in vivo.

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) comprise a range of early age-onset neurodevelopment disorders with genetic heterogeneity. Most ASD related genes are involved in synaptic function, which is regulated by mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor (mBDNF) and its precursor proBDNF in a diametrically opposite manner: proBDNF inhibits while mBDNF potentiates synapses. Here we generated a knock-in mouse line (BDNF) in which the conversion of proBDNF to mBDNF is attenuated.

The Association Between Branched-Chain Amino Acid Concentrations and the Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Preschool-Aged Children.

Several studies have linked branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolism disorders with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but the results have been inconsistent. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between BCAA concentrations and the risk of ASD. A total of 313 participants were recruited from two tertiary referral hospitals from May 2018 to July 2021.

Integrative analysis of γδT cells and dietary factors reveals predictive values for autism spectrum disorder in children.

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) includes a range of multifactorial neurodevelopmental disabilities characterized by a variable set of neuropsychiatric symptoms. Immunological abnormalities have been considered to play important roles in the pathogenesis of ASD, but it is still unknown which abnormalities are more prominent.

Methods: A total of 105 children with ASD and 105 age and gender-matched typically developing (TD) children were recruited.

Interrelation between homocysteine metabolism and the development of autism spectrum disorder in children.

Evidence is emerging that dysregulation of circulating concentrations of homocysteine, an important intermediate in folate and vitamin B12 metabolism, is associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but comprehensive assessments and correlations with disease characteristics have not been reported. Multivariate ordinal regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were used to estimate independent correlations between serum homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 levels and clinical outcomes and severity of children with ASD. After adjusting for confounding factors, serum homocysteine levels were significantly higher in children with ASD than in healthy controls (β: 0.