Table 4.
Functions and metabolic pathways of metabolites (VIP > 1) in two models of autism; directions of changes found in each of the models compared with the control are presented
| Metabolites | Metabolic pathway | Probably pathomechanism | VPA model | THAL model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progesterone | Steroid hormone biosynthesis | Energy and neurotransmission disturbances | ↓ | ↑ |
| Testosterone | ↑ | ↓ | ||
| Estriol | ↓ | ↓ | ||
| FA, MUFA, PUFA | FA biosynthesis | Energy production disturbances, cell membrane functional disturbances | ↓ | ↓ |
| Lysophosphatidylcholine | Glycerophospholipid metabolism | Cell membrane functional disturbances | ↓ | ↑ |
| Cholesterol | Cholesterol metabolism | Neurotransmission disturbances | ↑ | |
| Cholesterol ester | ↑ | |||
| 25-Hydroxycholesterol | ↑ | |||
| 24-Hydroxycholesterol | ↓ | |||
| 8-Hydroxyadenine | Purine metabolism | Oxidative stress | ↓ | ↑ |
| Hypoxanthine | ↑ | ↑ | ||
| GMP/IMP | ↓ | ↑ | ||
| Allantoine | ↓ | ↑ | ||
| Guanine, xanthine | ↓ | |||
| Glycine | Glycine, serine metabolism | ↓ | ||
| Threonine | Threonine metabolism | Neurotransmission disturbances | ↑ | |
| Glutathione | Glutathione/cysteine and methionine metabolism | Oxidative stress | ↓ | |
| Phosphorylcholine | Glycerophospholipid metabolism | Neurotransmission disturbances | ||
| ↑ | ||||
| Phosphoethanolamine | ↑ | |||
| Glycerophosphorylcholine | ↑ | |||
| Choline | ↑ | |||
| Creatine | Arginine and proline metabolism | Neurotransmission disturbances Oxidative stress | ↑ | |
| Creatinine | ↑ | ↑ | ||
| GABA | ↑ | |||
| Taurine | Taurine, alanine and glutamate, pyruvate metabolism | Neurotransmission disturbances Oxidative stress | ↑ | |
| Aspartate | ↑ | |||
| Cysteic acid | ↑ | |||
| Lactate | ↑ | |||
| NAA | ↑ | |||
| NAAG | ↓ | ↓ | ||
| Glycolic acid | Glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism | Oxidative stress | ↓ | |
| Acetate | Synthesis and degradation of ketone bodies | Energy production disturbances | ↑ | |
| 3-Hydroxybutyrate | ↓ | |||
| Myo-inositol | Inositol metabolism | Energy production disturbances | ↑ | |
| Scyllo-inositol | ↓ | |||
| 3-Hydroxyisovalerate | Valine, leucine, isoleucine biosynthesis Pyrimidine metabolism | Neurotransmission disturbances Oxidative stress | ↓ | |
| Thymine | ↑ | |||
| Methylmalonate | ↓ | |||
| 2-Oxoisovalerate | Valine, leucine, isoleucine degradation | Neurotransmission disturbances Oxidative stress | ↑ | |
| Valine, leucine, isoleucine | ↑ |