A novel study on amyloid beta peptide 40, 42 and 40/42 ratio in Saudi autistics

作者：Al Ayadhi Laila Y; Ben Bacha Abir G; Kotb Malak; El Ansary Afaf K^*

来源：Behavioral and Brain Functions, 2012, 8: 4.

DOI：10.1186/1744-9081-8-4

• Autism
• Neurotoxicity
• Amyloid beta
• Brain influx
• Cognitive disability

Objectives: We examined whether plasma concentrations of amyloid beta (A beta) as protein derivatives play a central role in the etiology of autistic features. %26lt;br%26gt;Design and Methods: Concentrations of human A beta (1-42), A beta (1-40), and A beta (40/42) in the plasma of 52 autistic children (aged 3-16 years) and 36 age-matched control subjects were determined by using the ELISA technique and were compared. %26lt;br%26gt;Results: Compared to control subjects, autistic children exhibited significantly lower concentrations of both A beta (1-40) and A beta (1-42) and lower A beta (40/42) concentration ratio. Receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC) analysis showed that these measurements of A beta peptides showed high specificity and sensitivity in distinguishing autistic children from control subjects. %26lt;br%26gt;Conclusions: Lower concentrations of A beta (1-42) and A beta (1-40) were attributed to loss of A beta equilibrium between the brain and blood, an imbalance that may lead to failure to draw A beta from the brain and/or impairment of beta-and gamma-secretase%26apos;s concentration or kinetics as enzymes involving in A beta production.