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A Proteomic Investigation of B Lymphocytes in an Autistic Family: A Pilot Study of Exposure to Natural Rubber Latex (NRL) May Lead to Autism

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Abstract

Autism is a multi-factorial neurodevelopmental disorder. We have investigated the molecular mechanism involved in a Chinese family with autism by a proteomic approach. Antibody chips containing 500 spots of human protein antibodies were used to screen for differentially expressed proteins in the peripheral B lymphocytes between autistic and non-autistic siblings in this family. Four proteins relevant to immuno-pathway, including IKKα that was up-regulated and Tyk2, EIF4G1 and PRKCI that were down-regulated, were identified differentially expressed in autistic versus non-autistic siblings. Western blot analysis and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction validated the differential expression of these four proteins. Based on the function of these differentially expressed proteins, relevant studies on immunoglobulin E (IgE) level, nuclear factor kappa B signaling activation and cell cycle were conducted in both autistic and non-autistic children of this family. Considering the fact that the family members were in close contact with natural rubber latex (NRL) and that IgE-mediated cross-reactions could be triggered by Hevea brasiliensis (Hev-b) proteins in NRL, we hypothesize that immune reactions triggered by close contact with NRL might influence the functions of B lymphocytes by altering expression of certain proteins identified in our experiments thus contributing to the occurrence of autism.

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Abbreviations

IgE:

Immunoglobulin E

RT-qPCR:

Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction

NRL:

Natural rubber latex

Hev-b:

Hevea brasiliensis

EBV:

Epstein–Barr Virus

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the family that participated in this study. This work was supported in part by the “985” program (985-2-035-39) of the Chinese Ministry of Education, the “973” project (2007CB511902) from the Ministry of Science and Technology, the National Nature Science Foundation (30671157), and the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (NYS OPWDD).

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  1. Chen Shen

    Present address: Beijing Children’s Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100045, China

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Peking University Center of Medical Genetics, Beijing, 100191, China

    Chen Shen, Xin-liang Zhao, Li-rong Huo, Wu Yan, Jun-hua Zou, Guo-di Yan & Nanbert Zhong

  2. Department of Medical Genetics, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China

    Chen Shen, Xin-liang Zhao, Wu Yan, Jun-hua Zou, Guo-di Yan & Nanbert Zhong

  3. New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, 1050 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, NY, 10314, USA

    Weina Ju, Edmund C. Jenkins, W. Ted Brown & Nanbert Zhong

  4. Department of Pediatrics, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China

    Xiao-bing Zou

  5. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China

    Li-rong Huo

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Correspondence to Nanbert Zhong.

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Shen, C., Zhao, Xl., Ju, W. et al. A Proteomic Investigation of B Lymphocytes in an Autistic Family: A Pilot Study of Exposure to Natural Rubber Latex (NRL) May Lead to Autism. J Mol Neurosci 43, 443–452 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12031-010-9463-5

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