Elevated levels of tissue plasminogen activator and E-selectin in male children with autism spectrum disorder

Although the etiopathology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is not clear, immune dysfunction has been proposed as a mechanism for the pathophysiology of ASD. The purpose of this study is to examine serum levels of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and some adhesion molecules in children with ASD that have not been investigated previously in detail. The study group included 35 male children aged from 2 to 9 diagnosed with ASD according to DSM-V criteria. Soluble platelet endothelial adhesion molecule-1 (sPECAM-1), P-selectin, E-selectin, and t-PA in the serum were determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Autism behavior check list (ABC) is used for the assessment of ASD severity. The levels of t-PA (P=0.025) and E-selectin (P=0.007) was detected significantly higher in children with ASD than control group. Serum levels of sPECAM-1 showed statistically significant negative correlation with sensory, body and object-use, language, social, and self-help and total scores in the patient group (r=-0.349, P=0.04; r=-0.411, P=0.01; r=-0.412, P=0.01; r=-0.417, P=0.01, and r=-0.531, P<0.01, respectively). Serum levels of P-selectin levels showed statistically significant negative correlation with ABC total score in the patient group (r=-0.378, P=0.03). It may be suggested that t-PA, E-selectin, P-selectin, and sPECAM-1 a crucial role in inflammatory conditions in children with ASD. Autism Res2016, 9: 1241-1247. (c) 2016 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.