Brain sciences
Circulating Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor and C-Reactive Protein Concentrations in Adults with High-Functioning Autism
By Kurtulmuş A, Ereğli B, Nas Dönmez B and 1 others.
Abstract
Background
Immune dysregulation has been implicated in the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a stable biomarker of chronic immune activation that has not previously been investigated in ASD. We compared circulating suPAR and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations in adults with high-functioning ASD and healthy controls.
Methods
In this cross-sectional case-control study, 38 adults with high-functioning ASD and 37 healthy controls were included. Plasma suPAR and CRP concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Group differences were examined using hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and current smoking status. The Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) was administered to all participants, and associations between inflammatory biomarkers and autistic traits were assessed using Spearman's rank correlation analyses. Sensitivity analyses were performed after excluding participants with CRP concentrations > 10 mg/L to minimise the potential influence of acute inflammatory conditions.