Epigenetic Modifications Among Children with Autism in Response to Phoenix dactylifera: An Intervention Study.

Metwally, Ammal M.; Mosaad, Rehab; Basha, Walaa A.; Salah El-Din, Ebtissam M.; El-Sonbaty, Marwa M.; Elkhatib, Alshaimaa A.; Abouelnaga, Marwa W.; Yousef, Walaa; Mahmoud, Walaa S.; Fathy, Asmaa M.; Elshaarawy, Ghada A.; Shehata, Manal A.; Attia, Hanaa R. M.; Abdel Raouf, Ehab R.; Elsaied, Amal; Ashaat, Engy A.; Hashish, Adel F.; Mehanna, Nayra Sh.; Al Swailem, Saleh M.; Salem, Sohair

doi:10.21608/ejchem.2024.314174.10234

Epigenetic Modifications Among Children with Autism in Response to Phoenix dactylifera: An Intervention Study.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Community Medicine Research Department/Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute/National Research Centre (Affiliation ID: 60014618), Dokki, Cairo, Egypt,

² Molecular Genetics and enzymology Department, Human Genetics and Genome Research Institute, National Research Centre (Affiliation ID: 60014618), Dokki, Cairo, Egypt.

³ Biological Anthropology Department/ Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute/National Research Centre (Affiliation ID: 60014618), Dokki, Cairo, Egypt,

⁴ Child Health Department/ Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute/National Research Centre (Affiliation ID: 60014618), Dokki, Cairo, Egypt,

⁵ Clinical and Chemical Pathology Department/Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research Centre (Affiliation ID: 60014618), Dokki, Cairo, Egypt

⁶ Department of Child with Special Needs/Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research Centre (Affiliation ID: 60014618), Dokki, Cairo, Egypt.

⁷ Clinical Genetics Dept./ Human Genetics and Genome Research Institute, National Research Centre (Affiliation ID: 60014618), Dokki, Cairo, Egypt.

⁸ Probiotics Lab, the central laboratory network, Food industries and Nutrition Research Institute, National Research Centre (Affiliation ID: 60014618), Dokki, Cairo, Egypt.

⁹ President of Ethq Agri. Develop. and Land Reclam. co. 33 Abdel Khaleq Tharwat St.Abdeen,Cairo,Egypt

10.21608/ejchem.2024.314174.10234

Abstract

This study explored the influence of the regular daily intake of 5 pieces of Ajwa dates fruit (Phoenix dactylifera) for four months on modifications of epigenetic factors related to autism. An interventional exploratory study was conducted on 31 autism-diagnosed children aged 3-12 years. Methylation-specific PCR was used to determine the methylation density of Olfactory receptor family 2 subfamily L member 13 (OR2L13), Reelin (RELN), Proline-Rich Transmembrane Protein 1 (PRRT1), and index of global methylation (Long interspersed nucleotide element-1, LINE-1). Quantitative real-time PCR was used to test the change in the expression of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) and chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 8 (CHD8), the expression of plasma miR-146A and miR-146B. The study also investigated the clinical, microbial, and biochemical factors' responses to Phoenix dactylifera intake. In response to Ajwa dates fruit intake, a significant decrease in the expression of DNMT1, was shown in 64.5% of children (P=0.012). LINE-1, OR2L13, and PRRT1 showed significant changes in their methylation density. A significant decrease was observed in the pattern of RELN methylation status and the mean expression fold change of MiR-146A for 74.2% and 38.7% of children respectively. Phoenix dactylifera's regular intake plays a role in epigenetic modification among children with autism.

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