Discovered Compounds Tied to Inflammation, Disruption of Membrane Integrity, and Neurotoxicity
An international team of researchers from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health has discovered disrupted levels of molecular compounds in maternal blood and cord blood. The team believes these compounds can be linked to a later diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in offspring. Their study involved analyzing levels of 1208 distinct chemical compounds in blood samples collected from 408 mothers at mid-gestation (17-21 weeks) and in cord blood obtained from 418 children at birth through the Norwegian Autism Birth Cohort (ABC). The molecular compounds were analyzed to determine if they were related to a clinical diagnosis of autism at ages 3-5. To carry out this process, the authors utilized chromatography/mass spectrometry-based metabolomics assays to measure levels of chemical compounds found in the maternal and cord blood samples. They then used machine learning to evaluate the predictive value of the compounds as biomarkers for ASD. The authors found 12 chemical compounds in maternal mid-gestation (MMG) samples of ASD girls, three compounds in MMG samples of ASD boys, eight compounds in cord blood (CB) samples of ASD girls, and 12 compounds in CB samples of ASD boys that appear to be linked to autism. These discovered compounds have previously been associated with inflammation, disruption of membrane integrity, impaired neurotransmission, and neurotoxicity. Machine learning analyses suggested that the compounds could serve as biomarkers, especially for those discovered in cord blood. Finding biomarkers is critical, as they can open the door to early diagnosis and treatment, leading to optimal outcomes for children with autism.
