Dysregulated Expression of Circadian Genes in Lymphoblastoid Cells of Patients with ASD

Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often exhibit disturbances in sleep, metabolism, and immune system. The molecular mechanisms for these clinical features in ASD are currently unknown. We demonstrated that circadian genes in the cells of patients with ASD often are dysregulated compared to controls. The dysregulation of circadian genes was reflected in two different ways: (1) abnormal levels of expression; and (2) a change of gene-gene association pattern in the co-expression network. We also observed a link between abnormal expression of circadian genes in lymphoblastoid cells with sleep phenotypes in patients with ASD. Our results suggest that circadian genes and circadian rhythms might play critical roles in the pathogenesis of ASD.