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Abnormal Transmethylation/transsulfuration Metabolism and DNA Hypomethylation Among Parents of Children with Autism

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An Erratum to this article was published on 11 July 2008

Abstract

An integrated metabolic profile reflects the combined influence of genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors that affect the candidate pathway of interest. Recent evidence suggests that some autistic children may have reduced detoxification capacity and may be under chronic oxidative stress. Based on reports of abnormal methionine and glutathione metabolism in autistic children, it was of interest to examine the same metabolic profile in the parents. The results indicated that parents share similar metabolic deficits in methylation capacity and glutathione-dependent antioxidant/detoxification capacity observed in many autistic children. Studies are underway to determine whether the abnormal profile in parents reflects linked genetic polymorphisms in these pathways or whether it simply reflects the chronic stress of coping with an autistic child.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their gratitude to the participating families affected by autism in Arkansas without whom this study would not have been possible. This research was supported, in part, with funding from the National Institute of Child Health and Development (RO1 HD051873) to SJJ, and by grants from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Children’s University Medical Group and the Arkansas Biosciences Institute (SJJ).

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  1. Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72202, USA

    S. Jill James, Stepan Melnyk, Stefanie Jernigan, Amanda Hubanks & Shannon Rose

  2. Arkansas Children’s Hospital Research Institute, 1120 Marshall St. Slot 512-40B, Little Rock, AR, 72202, USA

    S. Jill James

  3. Department of Biostatistics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72202, USA

    David W. Gaylor

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Correspondence to S. Jill James.

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An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10803-008-0614-2

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Jill James, S., Melnyk, S., Jernigan, S. et al. Abnormal Transmethylation/transsulfuration Metabolism and DNA Hypomethylation Among Parents of Children with Autism. J Autism Dev Disord 38, 1966–1975 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-008-0591-5

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