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Oxytocin as a peripheral biomarker for Autism Spectrum Disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2022

A. Natale ,
L. Fusar-Poli ,
S. Sturiale ,
C. Concerto ,
A. Aguglia ,
A. Amerio ,
G. Serafini ,
M. Amore  and
E. Aguglia
A. Natale*
Affiliation:
University of Catania, Department Of Clinical And Experimental Medicine, Psychiatry Unit, Catania, Italy
L. Fusar-Poli
Affiliation:
University of Catania, Department Of Clinical And Experimental Medicine, Psychiatry Unit, Catania, Italy
S. Sturiale
Affiliation:
University of Catania, Department Of Clinical And Experimental Medicine, Psychiatry Unit, Catania, Italy
C. Concerto
Affiliation:
University of Catania, Department Of Clinical And Experimental Medicine, Psychiatry Unit, Catania, Italy
A. Aguglia
Affiliation:
IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy, Department Of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal And Child Health, Section Of Psychiatry, University Of Genoa, Genoa, Italy, Genoa, Italy
A. Amerio
Affiliation:
IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy, Department Of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal And Child Health, Section Of Psychiatry, University Of Genoa, Genoa, Italy, Genoa, Italy
G. Serafini
Affiliation:
IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy, Department Of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal And Child Health, Section Of Psychiatry, University Of Genoa, Genoa, Italy, Genoa, Italy
M. Amore
Affiliation:
IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy, Department Of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal And Child Health, Section Of Psychiatry, University Of Genoa, Genoa, Italy, Genoa, Italy
E. Aguglia
Affiliation:
University of Catania, Department Of Clinical And Experimental Medicine, Psychiatry Unit, Catania, Italy
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of life-long neurodevelopmental conditions characterized by impairments in social communication and by the presence of restricted interests or repetitive behaviors. Several genetic, biological, and psychosocial mechanisms seem to play a role in the etiopathogenesis of this complex condition. Preclinical models have shown a potential role of oxytocin (OT), a peptide involved in a complex range of behaviors, including those related to social interaction. Therefore, it has been hypothesized that OT levels may be decreased in autistic people.

Objectives

To compare the levels of peripheral OT in autistic people vs neurotypical controls.

Methods

We performed a systematic literature search up to December 2020 according to PRISMA guidelines. Final inclusion was based on the following criteria: (1) Participants: individuals of any age diagnosed with ASD; (2) Controls: neurotypical subjects; (3) Outcome: OT levels, either in saliva, serum, or plasma; (4) Study design: case-control. Meta-analyses are ongoing.

Results

We finally included 21 papers published between 1998 and 2020, of which one recruited adult participants. Fifteen studies measured OT levels in plasma, 4 in saliva, and 2 in serum. Preliminary meta-analyses on 10 studies showed that peripheral OT levels in autistic individuals are reduced compared to neurotypical controls, with sex differences.

Conclusions

Our preliminary findings show that peripheral OT might represent a potential biomarker for ASD. Future well-conducted case-control studies with a detailed phenotypical characterization of samples are needed to understand the role of OT deficits in specific subgroups.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Keywords

Autism Spectrum Disorderperipheral biomarkerOxytocinsystematic review
Type
Abstract
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 65 , Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 30th European Congress of Psychiatry , June 2022 , pp. S84
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association
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