Zeitschrift für klinische und zelluläre Immunologie
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Circulating MicroRNA in Autism Spectrum Disorders as a Possible Biomarker of Neuroinflammation: Association with Comorbid Conditions and Monocyte Cytokine Profiles

Harumi Jyonouchi*, Lee Geng

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is characterized by frequent comorbid conditions. Previously, we reported changes in circulating levels of microRNA (miRNA) determined using high throughput sequencing, which were dependent on monocyte cytokine profiles. This study assessed how levels of 7 miRNAs selected based on our previous results, change in association with both comorbid conditions and monocyte cytokine profiles. Circulating levels of miRNAs were measured by quantitative Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) in 130 ASD and 50 non-ASD subjects. miRNA levels were negatively correlated with the production of monocyte cytokines (TNF-α, IL- 6, IL-1ß, and IL-10) in ASD subjects without sleep or seizure disorders, but not in ASD subjects with seizure/sleep disorders or in non-ASD controls. This was most evident between levels of miR-320b, miR-423-5p, miR-378-3p, and miR193a-5p, and the spontaneous production of these cytokines. ASD subjects without seizure/sleep disorders revealed higher circulating levels of these miRNAs than those with seizure/sleep disorders.

Longitudinal measurement of the miRNAs in 4 of the ASD subjects indicated an association between miRNA levels and changes in the severity of their co-morbid conditions. These circulatory miRNAs may serve as biomarkers of inflammation in ASD, given their regulatory actions on inflammation.