Intestinal Predictors of Whole Blood Serotonin Levels in Children With or Without Autism

• Published in: Journal of autism and developmental disorders Vol. 52; no. 9; pp. 3780 - 3789
• Main Authors: Zuniga-Kennedy, Miranda, Davoren, Micah, Shuffrey, Lauren C., Luna, Ruth Ann, Savidge, Tor, Prasad, Vinay, Anderson, George M., Veenstra-VanderWeele, Jeremy, Williams, Kent C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.09.2022; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescents; Autism; Autistic children; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Biochemistry; Biological markers; Biomarkers; Biopsy; Blood; Child & adolescent psychiatry; Child and School Psychology; Children; Diagnosis; Endoscopy; Etiology; Gene expression; Genetics; Health aspects; Human Body; Immune system; Intestine; Lymphocytes T; Males; Measurement; Men; Neurosciences; Original Paper; Pathology; Pediatrics; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Physiology; Psychology; Public Health; Risk factors; Serotonin; Symptoms (Individual Disorders); United States; Autism; Hyperserotonemia; Immunity; Whole blood serotonin
• ISSN: 0162-3257; 1573-3432
• DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05597-w

Hyperserotonemia, or elevated levels of whole blood serotonin (WB5-HT), was the first biomarker linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Despite numerous studies investigating the etiology of hyperserotonemia, results have been inconsistent. Recent findings suggest a relationship between the immune system and hyperserotonemia. The current study investigated whether intestinal 5-HT levels, 5-HT gene expression, or intestinal cell types predict WB5-HT. Participants included thirty-one males aged 3–18 who were classified into one of three groups: ASD and functional GI issues, typically developing with GI issues, and typically developing without GI issues. Samples from a lower endoscopy were analyzed to examine the pathways in predicting WB-5HT. Results demonstrated an association between T-Lymphocytes and WB5-HT.