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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC 4.0Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience

Altered NCAM1, NRXN1, NLGN4, and CDH2 Levels in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Unaffected Siblings

  • Ayşegül Tuğba Hıra Selen1
  • Necati Uzun2
  • İbrahim Kılınç3
  • Ahmet Osman Kılıç4
4 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Konya City Hospital, Konya, Türkiye
  2. 2Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Türkiye
  3. 3Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Türkiye
  4. 4Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Türkiye
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Abstract

Objective: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been increasingly associated with alterations in synaptic function and plasticity, in which cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) play a critical role. This study aimed to compare peripheral levels of NCAM1, NRXN1, NLGN4, and CDH2 among individuals with ASD, their unaffected siblings, and healthy controls, and to examine their associations with autism severity and autistic traits in siblings.

Methods: The study included 41 children aged 18−72 months diagnosed with ASD according to DSM-5 criteria, 41 unaffected siblings of children with ASD (control group 1, aged 24−72 months), and 41 typically developing children (control group 2, aged 18−72 months). The severity of ASD symptoms was evaluated using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale and the Autism Behavior Checklist. Parents of the siblings completed the Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire to assess subclinical autistic traits. Serum NCAM1, NRXN1, NLGN4, and CDH2 levels were measured in peripheral blood samples using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: No statistically significant differences were observed among the study groups in serum levels of NCAM1, NRXN1, NLGN4, or CDH2. However, within the ASD group, a significant positive correlation was found between NCAM1 and NRXN1 levels, suggesting a potential interrelation between these synaptic adhesion molecules.

Conclusion: Although peripheral levels of NCAM1, NRXN1, NLGN4, and CDH2 did not differ among groups, the observed molecular correlation in ASD cases may reflect subtle mechanisms influencing synaptic connectivity. Further biochemical and genetic studies are warranted to clarify the roles of these molecules in the etiology and neurobiology of ASD.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{selen2026altered,
  title = {{Altered NCAM1, NRXN1, NLGN4, and CDH2 Levels in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Unaffected Siblings}},
  author = {Ayşegül Tuğba Hıra Selen and Necati Uzun and İbrahim Kılınç and Ahmet Osman Kılıç},
  journal = {Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience},
  year = {2026},
  month = jun,
  doi = {10.9758/cpn.26.1398},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.9758/cpn.26.1398},
  note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Altered NCAM1, NRXN1, NLGN4, and CDH2 Levels in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Unaffected Siblings
AU  - Ayşegül Tuğba Hıra Selen
AU  - Necati Uzun
AU  - İbrahim Kılınç
AU  - Ahmet Osman Kılıç
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/06/24
JO  - Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience
DO  - 10.9758/cpn.26.1398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.9758/cpn.26.1398
AB  - Objective: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been increasingly associated with alterations in synaptic function and plasticity, in which cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) play a critical role. This study aimed to compare peripheral levels of NCAM1, NRXN1, NLGN4, and CDH2 among individuals with ASD, their unaffected siblings, and healthy controls, and to examine their associations with autism severity and autistic traits in siblings.  Methods: The study included 41 children aged 18−72 months diagnosed with ASD according to DSM-5 criteria, 41 unaffected siblings of children with ASD (control group 1, aged 24−72 months), and 41 typically developing children (control group 2, aged 18−72 months). The severity of ASD symptoms was evaluated using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale and the Autism Behavior Checklist. Parents of the siblings completed the Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire to assess subclinical autistic traits. Serum NCAM1, NRXN1, NLGN4, and CDH2 levels were measured in peripheral blood samples using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.  Results: No statistically significant differences were observed among the study groups in serum levels of NCAM1, NRXN1, NLGN4, or CDH2. However, within the ASD group, a significant positive correlation was found between NCAM1 and NRXN1 levels, suggesting a potential interrelation between these synaptic adhesion molecules.  Conclusion: Although peripheral levels of NCAM1, NRXN1, NLGN4, and CDH2 did not differ among groups, the observed molecular correlation in ASD cases may reflect subtle mechanisms influencing synaptic connectivity. Further biochemical and genetic studies are warranted to clarify the roles of these molecules in the etiology and neurobiology of ASD.
SN  - 1738-1088
SN  - 2093-4327
ER  -