Uncorrected Author Proof Advances in Neuroimmune Biology xx (20xx) x–xx DOI 10.3233/NIB-180144 IOS Press 1 Expression Analysis of Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling (SOCS) Genes in Blood of Autistic Patients 1 2 3 Mohammad Mahdi Eftekharian a , Mir Davood Omrani b,c , Alireza Komaki a , Shahram Arsang-Jang d , Mohammad Taheri b,c,∗ and Soudeh Ghafouri-Fard b,∗ 4 5 a Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran 6 b Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 7 c Urogenital Stem Cell Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 8 d Clinical Research Development Center (CRDU), Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran 9 Abstract. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) includes a group of neurodevelopmental disorders associated with the dysreg- ulation of cytokine profile. The family of suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) has been demonstrated to exert negative regulation on production of cytokines via interference with the Jak/Stat transduction pathway. In the present study, we evalu- ated expression of SOCS1-3 and SOCS5 in the peripheral blood of ASD patients compared to the healthy subjects by means of real time PCR. Expression levels of SOCS genes were not significantly different between cases and controls. Significant correlations were found between expression levels of SOCS genes in female subjects, but not in male subjects. In addition, based on the Spearman correlation coefficients, correlations were more significant in ASD patients compared to the healthy subjects. SOCS3 expression levels were significantly correlated with the age of all studied participants. SOCS5 expression was correlated with the age of patients, but not healthy subjects. Although we demonstrated similar levels of SOCS genes expression in peripheral blood of ASD patients and healthy subjects, based on the observed altered cytokine profile of ASD patients, we suggest future evaluation of expression of these genes in certain components of blood. 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Keywords: Suppressor of cytokine signaling, autism 21 INTRODUCTION 22 Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) includes a group 23 of neurodevelopmental disorders distinguished by 24 variable deficiencies in communication and social 25 interaction as well as limited interests and stereo- 26 typic behaviors. Dysregulation of immune system 27 including abnormalities in cytokine profiles and sig- 28 naling have been associated with this condition 29 [1]. For instance, significant associations have been 30 found between altered cytokine profiles and ASD 31 in children during postnatal period [2]. Moreover, 32 significant higher plasma concentration of several 33 ∗ Correspondence to: Mohammad Taheri and Soudeh Ghafouri- Fard, Tel./Fax: +00982123872572; mohammad 823@yahoo.com (Mohammad Taheri) and s.ghafourifard@sbmu.ac.ir (Soudeh Ghafouri-Fard). cytokines including IL-1, IL-1 receptor antagonist 34 (IL-1RA), IL-5, IL-8, IL-12, IL-13 and IL-17 has 35 been detected in high-functioning male ASD patients 36 compared to the healthy matched controls [3]. Oth- 37 ers have demonstrated higher concentrations of IL-6, 38 IL-12, TNF-, and IL-23 in ASD patients compared 39 to the healthy controls [4]. More recently, we have 40 reported up-regulation of TNF-, IL-6 and IL-17 41 expression while down-regulation of IL-2 expression 42 in ASD patients compared to the healthy subjects 43 [5]. The family of suppressors of cytokine signal- 44 ing (SOCS) has been demonstrated to exert negative 45 regulation on production of cytokines via interfer- 46 ence with the Jak/Stat transduction pathway [6]. This 47 family comprises eight members (SOCS1 to SOCS7 48 and CIS). Expressions of CIS, SOCS-1, SOCS- 49 2 and SOCS-3 are triggered by several cytokines. 50 Their inhibitory function on cytokine production is 51 ISSN 1878-948X/18/$35.00 © 2018 – IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved