Hormones and DNA Methylation in Autism

This is a current project.

Description

We know that genes can be “turned on” and “turned off." We call this gene expression. One way that genes are “turned off” is through a process called DNA methylation.

We hypothesize that prenatal exposure to abnormal levels of hormones, or to toxins like Bisphenol A (BPA) that resemble hormones, can permanently alter gene expression in the brain during fetal development. If normally silenced or “turned-off” genes are switched on, the result may be abnormal nerve signaling which might result in autism symptoms.

Drs. Ellerbeck and Jacobson are investigating whether children with autism display abnormal DNA methylation patterns as compared to typically developing children

Project Administration

Co-Investigator: Dr. Kathryn Ellerbeck, MD, MPH, Center for Child Health and Development at the University of Kansas Medical Center

Principal Investigator: Dr. Jill Jacobson, MD, Children’s Mercy Hospital

Project Contact

Jordan Roberts, BA
Center for Child Health and Development
Mail Stop 4003
The University of Kansas Medical Center
3901 Rainbow Blvd.
Kansas City, KS 66160
Jroberts4@kumc.edu
913-588-0893

This is a project of:

Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training at the University of Kansas and Univeristy (K-CART 2008 Pilot Research Grantee)

Funded by:

The Univeristy of Kansas and the University of Kansas Medical Center