Objective

The serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [HT]) system has long been implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Whole-blood 5-HT level (WB5-HT) is a stable, heritable biomarker that is elevated in more than 25% of children with ASD. Recent findings indicate that the maternal 5-HT system may influence embryonic neurodevelopment, but maternal WB5-HT has not been examined in relation to ASD phenotypes.

Method

WB5-HT levels were obtained from 181 individuals (3–27 years of age) diagnosed with ASD, 99 of their fathers, and 119 of their mothers. Standardized assessments were used to evaluate cognitive, behavioral, and language phenotypes.

Results

Exploratory regression analyses found relationships between maternal WB5-HT and nonverbal IQ (NVIQ), Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) Nonverbal Communication Algorithm scores, and overall adaptive function on the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales−II. Latent class analysis identified a three-class structure in the assessment data, describing children with low, intermediate, and high severity across measures of behavior, cognition, and adaptive function. Mean maternal WB5-HT differed across classes, with the lowest maternal WB5-HT levels seen in the highest-severity group (Welch F_2,46.048 = 17.394, p < .001). Paternal and proband WB5-HT did not differ between classes.

Conclusion

Maternal WB5-HT is associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring with ASD. Prospective, longitudinal studies will be needed to better understand the relationship between the function of the maternal serotonin system during pregnancy and brain development. Further studies in animal models may be able to reveal the mechanisms underlying these findings.

中文翻译：

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母体血清素水平与自闭症谱系障碍的认知能力和核心症状相关

客观的

血清素（5-羟色胺[HT]）系统长期以来一直与自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）有关。全血5-HT水平（WB5-HT）是一种稳定的，可遗传的生物标志物，在25％以上的ASD儿童中升高。最近的发现表明，母体5-HT系统可能影响胚胎神经发育，但尚未检查母体WB5-HT与ASD表型的关系。

方法

WB5-HT水平来自181名诊断为ASD的个体（3–27岁），99名父亲和119名母亲。标准化评估用于评估认知，行为和语言表型。

结果

探索性回归分析发现了孕妇WB5-HT与非语言智商（NVIQ），自闭症诊断面谈修订（ADI-R）非语言沟通算法得分以及Vineland自适应行为量表II上的总体自适应功能之间的关系。潜在类别分析在评估数据中确定了三级结构，通过行为，认知和适应功能的度量描述了严重度较低，中度和高度的儿童。产妇的平均WB5-HT在不同类别中有所不同，在最高严重度组中，孕妇的WB5-HT水平最低（Welch F _2,46.048  = 17.394，p  <.001）。父系和先证者WB5-HT之间没有差异。

结论

孕妇WB5-HT与ASD后代的神经发育结果相关。前瞻性的，纵向的研究将需要更好地了解孕期孕妇血清素系统功能与大脑发育之间的关系。在动物模型中的进一步研究可能能够揭示这些发现的潜在机制。