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Transgenerational Metabolic-Immune Biomarkers of Neurological and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Recruiting
Conditions
Mitochondrial Pathology
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Mitochondrial Diseases
Psychiatric Disorder
Brain Tumor
Epilepsy
Registration Number
NCT04322734
Lead Sponsor
Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center
Brief Summary

The study involves up to 5 visits for a fasting blood draw, behavioral assessments, and/or questionnaires. Other samples may be collected when appropriate.

This study is currently recruiting.

There is no cost for visits or study-related exams.

Detailed Description

Mitochondria are essential for a wide range of functions in almost every cell in our body. Best known for their role in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, mitochondria are also closely involved in a wide variety of cell functions such as calcium buffering, redox regulation, apoptosis and inflammation, and regulate metabolism through several mechanisms, including epigenetic changes. ATP produced is essential for many cellular systems. Thus, abnormal mitochondrial function can adversely affect cellular systems by several mechanisms.

Given the important role of the mitochondria in cellular function, individuals with classic mitochondrial disease demonstrate devastating symptoms, particularly in tissues that have high-energy demands such as the brain, muscles, gastrointestinal (GI) tract and immune system. Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to the pathophysiology of more common diseases, including psychiatric diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, neurological disorders including migraine and seizures, persistent systemic inflammation, cardiac disease, cancer and diabetes. Mitochondrial dysfunction also effects a significant portion of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as well as genetic syndromes associated with ASD.

One of our goals is to develop a method using the Seahorse Analyzer to measure individual variations in mitochondrial function which can identify children with medical disorders and mitochondrial dysfunction without an invasive muscle biopsy. In order to establish comprehensive profiles of mitochondrial function for individuals with known neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders, we will compare blood, urine, and stool from these individuals to those of healthy, typically developing (TD) children. The relationship between mitochondrial function, development, and behavior will be assessed by performing standard developmental testing. In addition, in patients who have a procedure that produces leftover tissue, we will examine the mitochondrial function in that tissue and correlate it with findings from blood.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
500
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Mitochondrial Reserve Capacity measured using the Seahorse XR Flux AnalyzerUp to one year

Children with ASD will be differentiated from all other cohorts and have a specific pattern of mitochondrial dysfunction that will be different from and comparable to other groups of children in the study (e.g. mitochondrial disease without autism, typically developing, autism with mitochondrial disease, and developmental delay). It is hypothesized that these children will have a more pronounced delay in their development and will have a higher probability for poor developmental and behavioral outcomes. This will be evaluated using a Seahorse XR flux analyzer to generate a maximal reserve capacity value.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Southwestern Research and Resource Center

🇺🇸

Phoenix, Arizona, United States

State University of New York, Downstate

🇺🇸

Brooklyn, New York, United States

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