Sex-specific DNA methylation signatures of autism spectrum disorder in newborn blood.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) comprises a group of neurodevelopmental conditions currently diagnosed by behavioral assessment in childhood, although neuropathology begins during gestation. A poorly understood male bias for ASD diagnosis is thought to be due to both biological sex differences and cultural biases against female diagnosis of ASD. Identification of molecular biomarkers of ASD likelihood in newborns would provide more objective screening and early intervention. Epigenetic dysregulation has been reported in multiple tissues from newborns who are later diagnosed with ASD, but this is the first study to investigate sex-specific DNA methylation signatures for ASD in newborn blood, an accessible and widely banked tissue.

Methods

DNA methylation was

SUBMITTER: Mouat JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11257592 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature