Micro-RNA analysis and birth cohort study for mothers and children in order to detect early diagnosis for autism spectrum disorders

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K12720
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Childhood science (childhood environment science)
• Research Institution: University of Fukui
• Principal Investigator: TOMODA AKEMI 福井大学, 子どものこころの発達研究センター, 教授 (80244135)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): FUJISAWA TAKASHI 福井大学, 子どものこころの発達研究センター, 特命講師 (90434894) ; SHIMADA KOJI 福井大学, 子どものこころの発達研究センター, 特命助教 (00711128) ; KOSAKA HIROTAKA 福井大学, 子どものこころの発達研究センター, 教授 (70401966)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 自閉スペクトラム症（ASD） / マイクロRNA / バイオマーカー / 視線計測検出装置 / オキシトシン受容体（OXTR）遺伝子多型 / Gazefinder / 発達コホート調査 / 社会的情報

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated whether microRNAs is associated with features of high-functioning autism spectrum disorders(ASD).42 subjects with ASD and 127 age- and IQ-matched typically developing controls underwent blood sampling and their microRNAs were analyzed.Relative to TD controls,subjects with ASD showed significantly lower microRNAs expressions.We examined visual attention using an eye tracking system in infants(6-90 months of age)and measured the concentration of oxytocin(OT)in saliva samples.We observed a negative association between age and both attention toward social cues and salivary OT levels,and a positive association between age and attention for non-social cues.Our results suggest that there is an age-dependent association between visual attention for social cues and OT levels in infants and children, and that the development of visual attention to the eyes as social cues is associated with both OXTR polymorphisms and OT levels.These variations contribute to heterogeneity in ASD.

Free Research Field

小児精神神経学、小児発達学