Dysregulation of Reelin and Bcl-2 proteins in autistic cerebellum

SH Fatemi, JM Stary, AR Halt, GR Realmuto - Journal of autism and …, 2001 - Springer
SH Fatemi, JM Stary, AR Halt, GR Realmuto
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2001Springer
Autism is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder with potential genetic and environmental
causes. Cerebellar pathology including Purkinje cell atrophy has been demonstrated
previously. We hypothesized that cell migration and apoptotic mechanisms may account for
observed Purkinje cell abnormalities. Reelin is an important secretory glycoprotein
responsible for normal layering of the brain. Bcl-2 is a regulatory protein responsible for
control of programmed cell death in the brain. Autistic and normal control cerebellar corteces …
Abstract
Autism is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder with potential genetic and environmental causes. Cerebellar pathology including Purkinje cell atrophy has been demonstrated previously. We hypothesized that cell migration and apoptotic mechanisms may account for observed Purkinje cell abnormalities. Reelin is an important secretory glycoprotein responsible for normal layering of the brain. Bcl-2 is a regulatory protein responsible for control of programmed cell death in the brain. Autistic and normal control cerebellar corteces matched for age, sex, and post-mortem interval (PMI) were prepared for SDS-gel electrophoresis and Western blotting using specific anti-Reelin and anti-Bcl-2 antibodies. Quantification of Reelin bands showed 43%, 44%, and 44% reductions in autistic cerebellum (mean optical density ± SD per 30 μg protein 4.05 ± 4.0, 1.98 ± 2.0, 13.88 ± 11.9 for 410 kDa, 330 kDa, and 180 kDa bands, respectively; N = 5) compared with controls (mean optical density ± SD per 30 μg protein, 7.1 ± 1.6, 3.5 ± 1.0, 24.7 ± 5.0; N = 8, p < 0.0402 for 180 kDa band). Quantification of Bcl-2 levels showed a 34% to 51% reduction in autistic cerebellum (M ± SD per 75 μg protein 0.29 ± 0.08; N = 5) compared with controls (M ± SD per 75 μg protein 0.59 ± 0.31; N = 8, p < 0.0451). Measurement of β-actin (M ± SD for controls 7.3 ± 2.9; for autistics 6.77 ± 0.66) in the same homogenates did not differ significantly between groups. These results demonstrate for the first time that dysregulation of Reelin and Bcl-2 may be responsible for some of the brain structural and behavioral abnormalities observed in autism.
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