Aim: Mitochondrial function studies in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have detected skeletal muscle mitochondrial enzyme deficiencies in respiratory complex (RC) activities. As a muscle biopsy is expensive and invasive, we assessed RC-I and RC-IV activities in buccal swabs.
Methods: 92 children with ASD and 68 controls were studied with immunocapture for RC-I and microspectrophotometry for RC-IV.
Results: Significant RC activity deficiencies were found in 39 (42%) ASD patients (p < 0.01) and more prevalent in more severe cases. Aberrant RC overactivity was seen in 9 children. RC-I/RC-IV activity ratio was significantly increased in 64% of the entire ASD cohort including 76% of those more severely affected (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Buccal swab analysis revealed extensive RC abnormalities in ASD providing a noninvasive biomarker to assess mitochondrial function in ASD patients.
Keywords: autism spectrum disorders; buccal swab; mitochondrial dysfunction; oxidative stress; respiratory complex.