GDNF AND NEURONAL RESILIENCE IN AUTISM: THE ROLE OF GLIAL CELL-DERIVED NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR IN MODULATING SYNAPTIC PLASTICITY

Abstract

A complicated neurological disease known as autism spectrum disorder is typified by issues with social interaction, communication, and repetitive behavior. Recent researches indicate that the neural protective mechanisms in ASD may be influenced by neurotropic genes like Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotropic Factor (GDNF). We aim to examine the relationship between neuronal protection and cognitive functioning by crosslinking GDNF gene expression, Serum levels with relation to MMSE scores in ASD patients. After study ERC approval (ERC/199/06/02/2021) EDTA blood samples (5 ml each) were drawn from study population (n=140) including 100 ASD patients with more than 30 months of disease course from various clinical settings and 40 healthy controls. The Analytical procedures included nucleic acid extraction, primer design and optimization, and GDNF-targeted RT-qPCR expression analysis. To measure cognitive and behavioral deficits, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) based serum GDNF levels (pg/ml) and Minimal Mental State Examination (MMSE) Scores were compared concluding Neuronal protection potential of GNDF. In patients with ASD showing, lower serum levels of GDNF (8.371±2.38pg/ml) were linked to more severe behavioral and cognitive deficits confirmed by MMSE scores (13.6±3.5) of ASD patients in comparison with control group (27.1± 2.1). Healthy individuals showed higher relative gene fold (11.71) as compared to the ASD patients (5.51). There is a notable decrease in GDNF gene expression in people with ASD, which raises the possibility that GDNF is important for both cognitive performance and neuronal protection in these people. GDNF may be a useful biomarker for identifying ASD and comprehending its molecular causes and treatment approaches.