Somayeh Shabani - Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.
Soheila Talesh Sasani - Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.
Farhad Mashayekhi - Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.

Background: Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) and its receptor, Mesothelial-Epithelial Transition (cMet) factor signaling, play an essential role in controlling synaptogenesis.  Objectives: Because of the vital role of HGF and Met signaling in synaptogenesis and spatial learning function of the brain’s hippocampal region, we aimed to study the HGF and soluble cMet (s-cMet) serum levels in children with different stages of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).  Materials & Methods: A total of ۱۸۹ ASD patients (mild; n=۶۹, moderate; n=۶۳ and severe; n=۵۷) and ۸۲ control were enrolled in this project. Blood samples were collected from ASD patients referred to Pediatric Neurology Clinic, ۱۷ Shahrivar Hospital, Rasht City, Iran, and serum concentrations of s-cMet and HGF were measured by ELISA. The control children with no clinical characteristics of ASD attended routine blood tests. Results: HGF Mean±SD serum concentration in ASD patients was ۲۳۹±۵۲.۰۲ pg/mL compared to controls which was ۳۶۰.۰۴±۷۱.۱۵ pg/mL (P=۰.۰۰۴). Also, the Mean±SD serum concentrations of HGF in mild, moderate, and severe ASD patients were ۲۹۷.۵۴±۶۹.۸۲, ۲۳۲.۸۱±۵۶.۴۱, and ۱۸۹±۳۳.۲۵ ng/mL, respectively, compared to control, which was ۳۶۰.۱۸±۵۷.۴۰. Besides, the s-cMet Mean±SD serum concentrations in ASD and controls were ۱۴۳.۵۴±۳۲.۵۰ and ۲۰۰.۲۵±۳۱.۱۶ pg/mL, respectively (P=۰.۰۰۵). The Mean±SD serum concentrations of s-cMet in the mild, moderate, and severe ASD patients were ۱۷۲.۸۱±۳۷.۶۹, ۱۲۹.۸۱±۴۵.۵۵, and ۸۵.۱۸±۲۲.۹۵ ng/mL, respectively, as compared to the control, which was ۲۱۴.۵۴±۳۴.۱۷ ng/mL.  Conclusion: Serum HGF and s-cMet concentration decreased in ASD patients corresponding to disease severity. Also, detecting serum HGF and s-cMet may help classify ASD.

Hepatocyte growth factor, Serum, Autism Spectrum Disorder