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Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by problems in communication, social skills, and repetitive behavior. Recent studies suggest that apoptotic and inflammatory mechanisms may contribute to the pathogenesis of this disorder. Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is an important gene transcriptional factor involved in the mediation of inflammation and apoptosis. This study examined the activities of the NF-κB signaling pathway in the brain of autistic subjects and their age-matched controls. The NF-κB activation is also determined in the brain of BTBR mice, which is a promising animal model for study of pathogenic mechanisms responsible for autism. Our results showed that the level of IKKαkinase, which phosphorylates the inhibitory subunit IκBα, is significantly increased in the cerebellum of autistic subjects. However, the expression and phosphorylation of IκBαare not altered. In addition, our results demonstrated that the expression of NF-κB (p65), and the phosphorylation/activation of NF-κB (p65) at Ser536 are not significantly changed in the cerebellum and cortex of both autistic subjects and BTBR mice. Our findings suggest that the NF-κB signaling pathway is not disregulated in the brain of autistic subjects and thus may not be significantly involved in the processes of abnormal inflammatory responses suggested in autistic brain.

In the original paper, mistakes occurred in Figures ​Figures1,1, ​,2,2, and ​and33 should be replaced with the figures below. In addition, a new author Fujiang Cao has been added as the second author in this paper. Figure 1 IKKα protein expression in the cerebellum of autistic subjects. (a) Western blot studies on cerebellar homogenates using IKKα antibody (dilution 1 : 1000). Lanes 1–7 represent control subjects and lanes 8–14 ... Figure 2 IκBα inhibitory subunit expression in the cerebellum of autistic subjects. Western blot studies on cerebellar homogenates using IκBα antibody (dilution 1 : 1000). Lanes 1–7 represent control subjects ... Figure 3 NF-κB p65 protein expression in the cerebellum of autistic subjects. Western blot studies on cerebellar homogenates using IκBα antibody (dilution 1 : 500). Lanes 1–7 represent control subjects and lanes ...