Joško Osredkar (Author), Kristina Kumer (Author), Uroš Godnov (Author), Maja Jekovec-Vrhovšek (Author), Veronika Vidova (Author), Elliot James Price (Author), Tara Javornik (Author), Gorazd Avguštin (Author), Teja Fabjan (Author)

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been associated with disruptions in tryptophan (TRP) metabolism, affecting the production of key neuroactive metabolites. Investigating these metabolic pathways could yield valuable biomarkers for ASD severity and progression. We included 44 children with ASD and 44 healthy children, members of the same family. The average age in the ASD group was 10.7 years, while the average age in the control group was 9.4 years. Urinary tryptophan metabolites were quantified via liquid chromatography—mass spectrometry operating multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). Urinary creatinine was analyzed on an Advia 2400 analyzer using the Jaffe reaction. Statistical comparisons were made between ASD subgroups based on CARS scores. Our findings indicate that children with ASD have higher TRP concentrations (19.94 vs. 16.91; p = 0.04) than their siblings. Kynurenine (KYN) was found at higher levels in children with ASD compared to children in the control group (82.34 vs. 71.20; p = 0.86), although this difference was not statistically significant. The ASD group showed trends of higher KYN/TRP ratios and altered TRP/ indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and TRP/5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) ratios, correlating with symptom severity. Although the numbers of the two groups were different, our findings suggest that mild and severe illnesses involve separate mechanisms. However, further comprehensive studies are needed to validate these ratios as diagnostic tools for ASD.

Keywords

triptofan;kinurenin;CARS;nevroaktivni metaboliti;autism spectrum disorder;tryptophan;kynurenine;

Data

Language: English
Year of publishing:
Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization: UL FFA - Faculty of Pharmacy
UDC: 616.896
COBISS: 227890947 Link will open in a new window
ISSN: 1422-0067
Views: 27
Downloads: 1
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Other data

Secondary language: Slovenian
Secondary keywords: Motnje avtističnega spektra;
Type (COBISS): Article
Pages: 18 str.
Volume: ǂVol. ǂ26
Issue: ǂiss. ǂ5, [article no.] 2254
Chronology: Mar. 2025
DOI: 10.3390/ijms26052254
ID: 26010941