Brief report: S6 ribosomal protein phosphorylation in autistic frontal cortex and cerebellum: a tissue array analysis

J Autism Dev Disord. 2006 Nov;36(8):1131-5. doi: 10.1007/s10803-006-0135-9.

Abstract

Few autistic brain samples are available for study, limiting investigations into molecular and histopathological abnormalities associated with this common disease. To facilitate distribution of samples, we have constructed a tissue array containing cerebral and cerebellar cores from 5 autistic children, 1 girl with Rett syndrome, and 5 age-matched controls. To demonstrate the utility of this resource, we examined phosphorylation of the S6 ribosomal protein, a signaling event regulated by the genes mutated in tuberous sclerosis and Cowden disease. We hypothesized that the molecular pathways altered in these inherited conditions associated with autism might be dysregulated in sporadic autistic cases as well. However, no consistent alterations in S6 phosphorylation were detected in autistic tissues compared to controls in the brain regions analyzed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Autistic Disorder / genetics*
  • Autistic Disorder / metabolism*
  • Autistic Disorder / pathology
  • Cerebellum / metabolism*
  • Cerebellum / pathology
  • Frontal Lobe / metabolism*
  • Frontal Lobe / pathology
  • Hamartoma Syndrome, Multiple / metabolism
  • Hamartoma Syndrome, Multiple / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Phosphorylation*
  • Ribosomal Protein S6 / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Tissue Array Analysis / methods*
  • Tuberous Sclerosis / metabolism
  • Tuberous Sclerosis / pathology

Substances

  • Ribosomal Protein S6