Telomere Length and Glutathione Level as Potential Biomarkersfor Autism

Abstract

Oxidative stress is a common feature in nearly all neurodegenerative disorders including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD is behaviorally defined disorder associated with abnormalities in social communication, behavior, language and perception. Chronic exposure to different common stress factors like immune inflammation, malnutrition, alcohol, abuse and drugs induce congenital and behavioral impairment. To the best of our knowledge this study is the first exploring the rate of oxidative stress and its effect on telomere length simultaneously in Egyptian autistic children. In this study we investigated the effect of oxidative stress associated with ASD. Patients were selected based on full clinical and neurological examination and the severity of autism evaluated using childhood autism rating scale (CARS) and Autism Diagnostic Interview–Revised (ADI™-R). Expectedly we found the majority of autism affected children were males, and consanguinity rate between the ASD families was ~ 27% while it was completely absent in the control subjects. We found a highly significant correlation between ASD and low levels of total glutathione (P<0.001) compared to controls. We reported a remarkable highly significant
correlation between ASD children and shorter relative telomere length (P<0.001). Moreover we identified a correlation between telomere length and behavioral characteristics in autistic children represented by social interaction impairment (ADI-R 1st domain) (r= - 0.354, P = 0.025). Here we conclude that oxidative stress represented by low glutathione level is an early sign of autism, and is affecting the telomere length that protecting the genetic material. Behavioral abnormalities associated with autism are dependent on telomere length.