Author/Editor		Kobal, Alfred Bogomir
Title		Možni vpliv živega srebra na patogenezo avtizma
Translated title		Possible influence of mercury on pathogenesis of autism
Type		članek
Source		Zdrav Vestn
Vol. and No.		Letnik 78, št. 1
Publication year		2009
Volume		str. 37-44
Language		slo
Abstract		Background Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is part of a broader spectrum of developmental disorders appearing in early childhood, known as pervasive developmental disorders. Although its etiology is not yet known today, genetic, immunological and environmental factors are considered relevant for the development of autism. Among the latter, there is also a mercury poisoning though opinions regarding its influence are divided. Some results obtained in recent times reject, while other support the hypothesis that ethyl-Hg in thimerosal, which is used in children’s vaccines, influences the development of ASD. Some studies that point to metabolic disorders caused by certain amino acids, oxidative stress and immunological disorders in children with ASD are presented. In addition, some basic findings on the retention, toxicokinetics and biological mechanisms of Hg activity that could influence the development of ASD. Conclusions The presented studies support the assumption that in children with specific metabolic disorders caused by amino acids that reduce glutathione content in cells, and immunological disorders, ethyl-Hg in thimerosal may enhance oxidative impairment in astrocytes and neurons, affect immunological response, and disturb the glutaminergic, serotonergic, holinergic and the central dopaminergic activity. In children with increased susceptibility to Hg, thimerosal in vaccines may be a significant factor in the pathogenesis of ASD.
Summary		Izhodišča Spektroavtistična motnja (SAM) je del širšega spektra razvojnih motenj, znanih kot pervazivne razvojne motnje, ki se pojavijo v zgodnjem otroštvu. Danes etiologija še ni poznana, znano pa je, da so za razvoj avtizma pomembni genetski, imunski in okoljski dejavniki. Med okoljske dejavnike sodi tudi živo srebro (Hg), vendar so mnenja o tem deljena. Nekateri rezultati iz zadnjega obdobja zanikajo, drugi pa podpirajo hipotezo o vplivu etil-Hg v timerosalu v otroških cepivih na razvoj SAM. Na kratko bom predstavil nekatere raziskave, ki pri otrocih s SAM opozarjajo na presnovne motnje določenih aminokislin, oksidativni stres in imunske motnje. Obenem pa bom osvetlil tudi nekatera osnovna spoznanja o privzemu, toksikokinetiki in bioloških mehanizmih delovanja Hg, ki bi lahko vplivali na razvoj SAM. Zaključki Predstavljene raziskave podpirajo domnevo, da pri otrocih z določenimi presnovnimi motnjami aminokislin, ki povzročajo znižanje vsebnosti glutationa v celicah, in z imunskimi motnjami, lahko etil-Hg v timerosalu še dodatno povečuje oksidativno prizadetost astrocitov in nevronov, vpliva na imunsko odzivnost ter moti glutaminergično, serotonergično, holinergično in centralno dopaminergično aktivnost. Pri otrocih s povečano občutljivostjo na učinke Hg je timerosal v cepivih lahko pomemben dejavnik v patogenezi SAM.
Descriptors		AUTISM MERCURY THIMEROSAL OXIDATIVE STRESS GLUTATHIONE