Research Article

B-Lymphocytes from a Population of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Unaffected Siblings Exhibit Hypersensitivity to Thimerosal

Table 2

The DCFH oxidation (nMole mg−1 hr−1) of cell families B and H after addition of 100 µM H2O2 and 250 nM thimerosal. ASD B-cells from family B showed a significant difference ( = 0.01) of DCFH oxidation when exposed to thimerosal. None of the other cells lines in B or H showed any statistical difference. This indicates an inherent defect of antioxidant defense in the ASD population of cells.

Cell IDDCFH oxidation with 100 µM H2O2DCFH oxidation with 100 µM H2O2 and 250 nM ThimerosalDifference

ASD-H49.85 4.3448.25 2.02−1.61
Twin-H49.32 6.1949.31 2.42−0.01
Sib-H48.35 6.743.34 2.35−5.01
Cont-H47.15 4.841.48 5.46−5.67

ASD-B83.5 ± 13.7693.86 13.7610.396 **
Twin-B61.32 6.1960.41 10.692.963
Sib-B62.55 6.758.22 10.813.816
Cont-B 46.93 4.842.03 17.64.990

Indicates statistically significant difference.