Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci.  2022 Feb;20(1):135-142. 10.9758/cpn.2022.20.1.135.

Investigation of Relaxin-3 Serum Levels in terms of Social Interaction, Communication, and Appetite as a Biomarker in Children with Autism

• Erden S
• Nalbant K
• Kılınç İ

• KMID: 2526855
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.9758/cpn.2022.20.1.135

Abstract

Objective
To investigate the possible relationship between relaxin-3 and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Methods
Serum relaxin-3 was measured in 80 children (50 children diagnosed with ASD and 30 controls). Symptom severity in the ASD group was evaluated by the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). Behavioral and nutritional problems in the groups were evaluated using the Abnormal Behavior Checklist (ABC) and the Childrenʼs Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ).
Results
Our findings showed that serum relaxin-3 levels were higher in children with ASD than in the controls. The listening response sub-scale score of the CARS scale was found to decrease as the level of relaxin-3 increased. However, as relaxin-3 levels increased in children with ASD, it was found that the speech problem sub-scale score on the ABC scale and the desire to drink score on the CEBQ scale increased, but the satiety responsiveness and food fussiness scores decreased.
Conclusion
This study the first to investigate serum levels of relaxin-3, which has a role in regulating social behavior and nutritional behavior in children with ASD.

Keyword

Autism spectrum disorder; Communication; Appetite; Relaxin