Mohammad Reza Khakzad - Allergy Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran - Department of Immunology, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
Farhad Salari - Immunology Research Center, Medical School, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Maryam Javanbakht - Department of Psychiatrics, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad Branch, Mashhad, Iran
Maryam Hojati - Noor Hedayat Center of Autism Spectrum Disorders, Mashhad, Iran
Abdolreza Varasteh - Allergy Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Mojtaba Sankian - Immunology Research Center, Medical School, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Mojtaba Meshkat - Department of Biostatistc, Shahid Beheshti University of medical sciences, Tehran, Iran

Background: Transforming growth factor-β۱ (TGF-β۱) has been found to play a crucial role in early central nervous system development. Several studies have illustrated decreased TGF-β۱ levels in sera and brains of autistic children. Two point mutations in the TGF-β۱ signal peptide at ۸۶۹T/C and ۹۱۵G/C have been reported to influence TGF-β۱ expression. The aim of the present study was to investigate the correlation of TGF-β۱ polymorphisms and their haplotypes with autism. Methods: This study was performed on ۳۹ autistic patients and ۳۵ age- and sex-matched normal controls in an Iranian population, using the sequence specific primed-polymerase chain reaction (PCR-SSP) technique. Patients were divided into mild-to-moderate and severe groups according to the childhood autism rating scale. Results: No significant differences were observed for allele, genotype, or haplotype frequencies between the autistics and controls. Only a slight difference was observed in GC۲۵ between the controls and all children with autism. Conclusion: Thus, these results indicate that the polymorphisms in TGF-β۱ gene may not play an important role in the development of autism.

Autism spectrum disorders, Development, Polymorphism, Transforming Growth Factor beta ۱