18581
Abnormal Expression of a SERT-Binding Protein, NSF, in Autism: Implications for Pathophysiology in Autism
Objectives: The objectives of this study were to address whether expressions of SERT and NSF were changed in autism and whether these expression correlate with clinical variables and symptom profiles.
Methods: We examined the mRNA expression of SERT (SLC6A4) and NSF in the post-mortem brains from 7 subjects with autism and 11 healthy age- and sex-matched control subjects, and in the lymphocytes from 30 male subjects with autism and 30 male healthy age-matched control subjects by quantitative real-time PCR. Additionally, we evaluated the relationships between these expression levels and clinical variables and symptom profiles.
Results: While SLC6A4 expression was not significantly changed, NSF expression tended to be reduced in post-mortem brains, however this potential trend is not statistically significant, and was significantly reduced and correlated with the severity of the clinical symptom in lymphocytes of subjects with autism.
Conclusions: A possible role for NSF in the pathophysiology of autism, through modulation of SERT trafficking, is suggested.