mRNA and Protein Levels for GABA_Aα4, α5, β1 and GABA_BR1 Receptors are Altered in Brains from Subjects with Autism

We have shown altered expression of gamma-aminobutyric acid A (GABA_A) and gamma-aminobutyric acid B (GABA_B) receptors in the brains of subjects with autism. In the current study, we sought to verify our western blotting data for GABBR1 via qRT-PCR and to expand our previous work to measure mRNA and protein levels of 3 GABA_A subunits previously associated with autism (GABRα4; GABRα5; GABRβ1). Three GABA receptor subunits demonstrated mRNA and protein level concordance in superior frontal cortex (GABRα4, GABRα5, GABRβ1) and one demonstrated concordance in cerebellum (GABΒR1). These results provide further evidence of impairment of GABAergic signaling in autism.