Facial phenotypes in subgroups of prepubertal boys with autism spectrum disorders are correlated with clinical phenotypes
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The brain develops in concert and in coordination with the developing facial tissues, with each influencing the development of the other and sharing genetic signaling pathways. Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) result from alterations...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2011-10-01
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| Series: | Molecular Autism |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.molecularautism.com/content/2/1/15 |
| _version_ | 1819123547407122432 |
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| author | Aldridge Kristina George Ian D Cole Kimberly K Austin Jordan R Takahashi T Nicole Duan Ye Miles Judith H |
| author_facet | Aldridge Kristina George Ian D Cole Kimberly K Austin Jordan R Takahashi T Nicole Duan Ye Miles Judith H |
| author_sort | Aldridge Kristina |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The brain develops in concert and in coordination with the developing facial tissues, with each influencing the development of the other and sharing genetic signaling pathways. Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) result from alterations in the embryological brain, suggesting that the development of the faces of children with ASD may result in subtle facial differences compared to typically developing children. In this study, we tested two hypotheses. First, we asked whether children with ASD display a subtle but distinct facial phenotype compared to typically developing children. Second, we sought to determine whether there are subgroups of facial phenotypes within the population of children with ASD that denote biologically discrete subgroups.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The 3dMD cranial System was used to acquire three-dimensional stereophotogrammetric images for our study sample of 8- to 12-year-old boys diagnosed with essential ASD (<it>n </it>= 65) and typically developing boys (<it>n </it>= 41) following approved Institutional Review Board protocols. Three-dimensional coordinates were recorded for 17 facial anthropometric landmarks using the 3dMD Patient software. Statistical comparisons of facial phenotypes were completed using Euclidean Distance Matrix Analysis and Principal Coordinates Analysis. Data representing clinical and behavioral traits were statistically compared among groups by using χ<sup>2 </sup>tests, Fisher's exact tests, Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests and Student's <it>t</it>-tests where appropriate.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>First, we found that there are significant differences in facial morphology in boys with ASD compared to typically developing boys. Second, we also found two subgroups of boys with ASD with facial morphology that differed from the majority of the boys with ASD and the typically developing boys. Furthermore, membership in each of these distinct subgroups was correlated with particular clinical and behavioral traits.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Boys with ASD display a facial phenotype distinct from that of typically developing boys, which may reflect alterations in the prenatal development of the brain. Subgroups of boys with ASD defined by distinct facial morphologies correlated with clinical and behavioral traits, suggesting potentially different etiologies and genetic differences compared to the larger group of boys with ASD. Further investigations into genes involved in neurodevelopment and craniofacial development of these subgroups will help to elucidate the causes and significance of these subtle facial differences.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T07:10:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-de61d229d08d43ef87c983e4a9f3d81c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2040-2392 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T07:10:05Z |
| publishDate | 2011-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecular Autism |
| spelling | doaj.art-de61d229d08d43ef87c983e4a9f3d81c2022-12-21T18:34:33ZengBMCMolecular Autism2040-23922011-10-01211510.1186/2040-2392-2-15Facial phenotypes in subgroups of prepubertal boys with autism spectrum disorders are correlated with clinical phenotypesAldridge KristinaGeorge Ian DCole Kimberly KAustin Jordan RTakahashi T NicoleDuan YeMiles Judith H<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The brain develops in concert and in coordination with the developing facial tissues, with each influencing the development of the other and sharing genetic signaling pathways. Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) result from alterations in the embryological brain, suggesting that the development of the faces of children with ASD may result in subtle facial differences compared to typically developing children. In this study, we tested two hypotheses. First, we asked whether children with ASD display a subtle but distinct facial phenotype compared to typically developing children. Second, we sought to determine whether there are subgroups of facial phenotypes within the population of children with ASD that denote biologically discrete subgroups.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The 3dMD cranial System was used to acquire three-dimensional stereophotogrammetric images for our study sample of 8- to 12-year-old boys diagnosed with essential ASD (<it>n </it>= 65) and typically developing boys (<it>n </it>= 41) following approved Institutional Review Board protocols. Three-dimensional coordinates were recorded for 17 facial anthropometric landmarks using the 3dMD Patient software. Statistical comparisons of facial phenotypes were completed using Euclidean Distance Matrix Analysis and Principal Coordinates Analysis. Data representing clinical and behavioral traits were statistically compared among groups by using χ<sup>2 </sup>tests, Fisher's exact tests, Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests and Student's <it>t</it>-tests where appropriate.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>First, we found that there are significant differences in facial morphology in boys with ASD compared to typically developing boys. Second, we also found two subgroups of boys with ASD with facial morphology that differed from the majority of the boys with ASD and the typically developing boys. Furthermore, membership in each of these distinct subgroups was correlated with particular clinical and behavioral traits.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Boys with ASD display a facial phenotype distinct from that of typically developing boys, which may reflect alterations in the prenatal development of the brain. Subgroups of boys with ASD defined by distinct facial morphologies correlated with clinical and behavioral traits, suggesting potentially different etiologies and genetic differences compared to the larger group of boys with ASD. Further investigations into genes involved in neurodevelopment and craniofacial development of these subgroups will help to elucidate the causes and significance of these subtle facial differences.</p>http://www.molecularautism.com/content/2/1/15autismneurodevelopmentanthropometryfacial phenotypebiomarkercraniofacial genetics |
| spellingShingle | Aldridge Kristina George Ian D Cole Kimberly K Austin Jordan R Takahashi T Nicole Duan Ye Miles Judith H Facial phenotypes in subgroups of prepubertal boys with autism spectrum disorders are correlated with clinical phenotypes Molecular Autism autism neurodevelopment anthropometry facial phenotype biomarker craniofacial genetics |
| title | Facial phenotypes in subgroups of prepubertal boys with autism spectrum disorders are correlated with clinical phenotypes |
| title_full | Facial phenotypes in subgroups of prepubertal boys with autism spectrum disorders are correlated with clinical phenotypes |
| title_fullStr | Facial phenotypes in subgroups of prepubertal boys with autism spectrum disorders are correlated with clinical phenotypes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Facial phenotypes in subgroups of prepubertal boys with autism spectrum disorders are correlated with clinical phenotypes |
| title_short | Facial phenotypes in subgroups of prepubertal boys with autism spectrum disorders are correlated with clinical phenotypes |
| title_sort | facial phenotypes in subgroups of prepubertal boys with autism spectrum disorders are correlated with clinical phenotypes |
| topic | autism neurodevelopment anthropometry facial phenotype biomarker craniofacial genetics |
| url | http://www.molecularautism.com/content/2/1/15 |
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