Measuring Altered Glutathione in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

项目摘要 自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）的特征是社交和交流功能受损， 重复的行为。最近的研究表明，氧化应激（由遗传和环境引起） 原因）是ASD神经病理学的一个促成因素。新出现的证据表明， 氧化应激可能导致自闭症儿童的神经元和认知障碍 谱系障碍（ASD）。谷胱甘肽（GSH）是脑中主要的氧化还原化合物，还原型GSH 在发展过程中可能会导致这种增加氧化应激，并可能是一个主要原因， ASD的神经生理学损伤。GSH可以使用编辑的磁共振测量 波谱学（MRS）。在这里，我们建议使用一种非常新颖的MRS技术（爱马仕）来测量GSH， ASD儿童的大脑，并研究其与自闭症功能行为测量的关系， 氧化应激的外周标志物，以前未进行的工作。新颖之处在于应用于 儿童，使用最近开发的，更具体和有效的MRS技术。氧化应激增加， 因此，相关的GSH功能障碍可能是自闭症相关改变的重要因素， 大脑发育，进而导致ASD中常见的认知和社会障碍。理解 氧化应激在ASD中的作用对于理解ASD的出现很重要， 这是未来早期干预的一个有希望的目标，以增加大脑中GSH的浓度。

Project summary Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by impairments in social and communicative function and repetitive behaviors. Recent work suggests that oxidative stress (arising from both genetic and environmental causes) is a contributing factor to the neuropathology of ASD. Emerging evidence suggests that increased oxidative stress may contribute to the neuronal and cognitive impairments seen in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Glutathione (GSH) is the main redox compound in the brain, and reduced GSH during development may lead to such increases in oxidative stress and may be a primary cause of secondary neurophysiological impairments in ASD. GSH can be measured using edited Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS). Here, we propose using a highly novel MRS technique (HERMES) to measure GSH in the brain of children with ASD and investigate its relation to functional behavioral measures of autism, and peripheral markers of oxidative stress, work not previously performed. The novelty lies in the application in children, using a recently developed, more specific and valid MRS technique. Increased oxidative stress, and associated GSH dysfunction, may therefore be an important contributor to autism-associated alterations in brain development, contributing in turn to cognitive and social impairments common in ASD. Understanding the role of oxidative stress in ASD is important for understanding the emergence of ASD and offers a promising target for future early interventions to increase GSH concentration in the brain.