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'''Sandra Jill James''' is an American biochemist and autism researcher who studies metabolic autism [[biomarker]]s. She is a member of the [[Autism Speaks]] Treatment Advisory Board,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.autismspeaks.org/science/boards/treatment-advisory-board/biographies | title=Treatment Advisory Board Biographies | work=[[Autism Speaks]] | accessdate=19 October 2013}}</ref> and also works at [[Arkansas Children's Hospital]] Research Institute, where she is the director of the Metabolic Genomics Laboratory, as well as the [[University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences]]'s department of pediatrics, where she has worked since 2002.<ref>[http://achri.archildrens.org/researchers/jamesj.htm S Jill James, PhD<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://arbirthdefectsresearch.uams.edu/JamesJill.htm Research<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Her current research focuses on the role of [[epigenetics]] in causing autism, as well as the effectiveness of supplements as a treatment for autism and the potential existence of abnormal metabolism in autistic children. This research is funded by a 5-year grant from the [[National Institutes of Health]] entitled "Metabolic biomarkers of autism: predictive potential and genetic susceptibility," as well as by a grant from [[Autism Speaks]].<ref>http://cied.uark.edu/JillJamesBiosketch.pdf</ref> She is a consulting editor for the ''[[American Journal of Clinical Nutrition]]''.<ref>[http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/66/1/local/ed-board.pdf Editorial Board]</ref>
'''Sandra Jill James''' is an American biochemist and autism researcher who studies metabolic autism [[biomarker]]s. She is a member of the [[Autism Speaks]] Treatment Advisory Board,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.autismspeaks.org/science/boards/treatment-advisory-board/biographies | title=Treatment Advisory Board Biographies | publisher=[[Autism Speaks]] | accessdate=19 October 2013}}</ref> and also works at [[Arkansas Children's Hospital]] Research Institute, where she is the director of the Metabolic Genomics Laboratory, as well as the [[University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences]]'s department of pediatrics, where she has worked since 2002.<ref>[http://achri.archildrens.org/researchers/jamesj.htm S Jill James, PhD<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://arbirthdefectsresearch.uams.edu/JamesJill.htm Research<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Her current research focuses on the role of [[epigenetics]] in causing autism, as well as the effectiveness of supplements as a treatment for autism and the potential existence of abnormal metabolism in autistic children. This research is funded by a 5-year grant from the [[National Institutes of Health]] entitled "Metabolic biomarkers of autism: predictive potential and genetic susceptibility," as well as by a grant from [[Autism Speaks]].<ref>http://cied.uark.edu/JillJamesBiosketch.pdf</ref> She is a consulting editor for the ''[[American Journal of Clinical Nutrition]]''.<ref>[http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/66/1/local/ed-board.pdf Editorial Board]</ref>


==Education==
==Education==
James obtained her bachelor's degree in biology from Mills College in 1962.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.arpediatrics.org/index.php?option=com_uams&view=faculty&sap=00014170 | title=S. Jill James | publisher=[[University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences]] | accessdate=19 October 2013}}</ref> After obtaining her PhD from UCLA in 1986 in nutritional biochemistry, she studied mechanisms of nutritional [[hepatocarcinogenesis]] at the [[National Center for Toxicological Research]] for 15 years, where she was funded by the [[American Cancer Society]] and [[American Association for Cancer Research]].
James obtained her bachelor's degree in biology from Mills College in 1962.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.arpediatrics.org/index.php?option=com_uams&view=faculty&sap=00014170 | title=S. Jill James | publisher=[[University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences]] | accessdate=19 October 2013}}</ref> After obtaining her PhD from UCLA in 1986 in nutritional biochemistry, she studied mechanisms of nutritional [[hepatocarcinogenesis]] at the [[National Center for Toxicological Research]] for 15 years, where she was funded by the [[American Cancer Society]] and [[American Association for Cancer Research]].
==Research==
==Research==
James, while at the NCTR, conducted research on the role of DNA methylation and cancer susceptibility. While James has, more recently, conducted some research regarding [[hyperhomocysteinemia]],<ref>{{cite doi|10.1093/hmg/10.5.433}}</ref> she is best known for her autism-related research. Regarding autism, James' view is that the [[transsulfuration pathway]] is disrupted in autistic children, resulting in these children being deficient in [[glutathione]], as well as vitamins such as [[vitamin B6]] and [[vitamin B12]].<ref>[http://www.autismcoach.com/Articles.asp?ID=252 Autism Coach Product Catalog and Information Website<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> She has also found that administering these compounds as supplements, as well as [[methylcobalamin]] and [[folinic acid]], to autistic children can significantly restore their levels of glutathione and [[cysteine]] and may therefore be useful in the treatment of autism.<ref>{{cite pmid|19056591}}</ref><ref>[http://www.tacanow.org/family-resources/detoxification-glutathione-autism/ Detoxification and Methylation]</ref> In addition, she has produced evidence that autistic children also suffer from impaired [[methylation]] capacity<ref>{{cite journal | title=Metabolic biomarkers of increased oxidative stress and impaired methylation capacity in children with autism | author=James, S. Jill | journal=[[Am. J. Clin. Nutr.]] | year=2004 | month=December | volume=80 | issue=6 | pages=1611-1617}}</ref> and that, according to a study she presented at the 2005 Experimental Biology conference, they have a unique biological "fingerprint" in their blood which neurotypical children lack.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.phschool.com/science/science_news/articles/blood_hints_autism.html | title=Blood hints at autism's source | publisher=[[Science News]] | date=2005 | accessdate=19 October 2013 | author=Raloff, Janet}}</ref> With regard to this particular study, James said that "One interpretation of this finding is that children with autism would be less able to detoxify and eliminate these heavy metals."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://articles.latimes.com/2005/apr/03/science/sci-autism3 | title=Study Links Free Radicals to the Spectrum of Autism | work=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=3 April 2005 | accessdate=19 October 2013 | author=Hotz, Robert Lee}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://nyp.org/news/health/050413.html | title=Autism Linked with Low Levels of Antioxidants | publisher=[[New York-Presbyterian Hospital]] | date=13 April 2005 | accessdate=6 November 2013}}</ref> Dr. James has also produced evidence that autistic children exhibit abnormal [[folate]] metabolism, and that this is detectable by higher levels of plasma [[homocysteine]], [[adenosine]], and [[S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine]] in the mothers of these children.<ref>[http://www.autismspeaks.org/blog/2013/03/12/more-about-prenatal-folic-acid-and-autism More about Prenatal Folic Acid and Autism]</ref><ref>{{cite pmid|20468076}}</ref> Her glutathione-related research has been cited by anti-vaccinationists such as [[Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.]] as evidence that autistic children lack sufficient glutathione to remove mercury from their bodies and are therefore more susceptible to the toxicity of mercury in vaccines.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/07/01/autism_mercury_and_politics/ | title=Autism, mercury and politics | work=[[Boston.com]] | date=1 July 2005 | accessdate=19 October 2013 | author=Kennedy, Robert F., Jr.}}</ref> On March 27 2012, the Jane Botsford Johnson Foundation awarded a $1.2 million research grant to Arkansas Children's Hospital to fund research into autism biomarkers; this research will be led by James. At the time the grant was being awarded, Johnson herself said that "Jill James' work at ACHRI holds great promise for the future of autism therapy and prevention."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thv11.com/news/article/204081/2/Foundation-donates-12-million-to-Arkansas-Childrens-Hospital | title=Jane Botsford Johnson Foundation donates to Arkansas Children's Hospital for autism research | work=THV 11 | date=27 March 2012 | accessdate=6 November 2013}}</ref>
James, while at the NCTR, conducted research on the role of DNA methylation and cancer susceptibility. While James has, more recently, conducted some research regarding [[hyperhomocysteinemia]],<ref>{{cite doi|10.1093/hmg/10.5.433}}</ref> she is best known for her autism-related research. Regarding autism, James' view is that the [[transsulfuration pathway]] is disrupted in autistic children, resulting in these children being deficient in [[glutathione]], as well as vitamins such as [[vitamin B6]] and [[vitamin B12]].<ref>[http://www.autismcoach.com/Articles.asp?ID=252 Autism Coach Product Catalog and Information Website<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> She has also found that administering these compounds as supplements, as well as [[methylcobalamin]] and [[folinic acid]], to autistic children can significantly restore their levels of glutathione and [[cysteine]] and may therefore be useful in the treatment of autism.<ref>{{cite pmid|19056591}}</ref><ref>[http://www.tacanow.org/family-resources/detoxification-glutathione-autism/ Detoxification and Methylation]</ref> In addition, she has produced evidence that autistic children also suffer from impaired [[methylation]] capacity<ref>{{cite journal | title=Metabolic biomarkers of increased oxidative stress and impaired methylation capacity in children with autism | author=James, S. Jill | journal=[[Am. J. Clin. Nutr.]] | year=2004 | month=December | volume=80 | issue=6 | pages=1611-1617}}</ref> and that, according to a study she presented at the 2005 Experimental Biology conference, they have a unique biological "fingerprint" in their blood which neurotypical children lack.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.phschool.com/science/science_news/articles/blood_hints_autism.html | title=Blood hints at autism's source | publisher=[[Science News]] | date=2005 | accessdate=19 October 2013 | author=Raloff, Janet}}</ref> With regard to this particular study, James said that "One interpretation of this finding is that children with autism would be less able to detoxify and eliminate these heavy metals."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://articles.latimes.com/2005/apr/03/science/sci-autism3 | title=Study Links Free Radicals to the Spectrum of Autism | work=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=3 April 2005 | accessdate=19 October 2013 | author=Hotz, Robert Lee}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://nyp.org/news/health/050413.html | title=Autism Linked with Low Levels of Antioxidants | publisher=[[New York-Presbyterian Hospital]] | date=13 April 2005 | accessdate=6 November 2013}}</ref> According to the official blog of [[Autism Speaks]], James found that autistic children exhibit abnormal [[folate]] metabolism that is detectable by higher levels of plasma [[homocysteine]], [[adenosine]], and [[S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine]] in the mothers of these children.<ref>[http://www.autismspeaks.org/blog/2013/03/12/more-about-prenatal-folic-acid-and-autism More about Prenatal Folic Acid and Autism.] Autism Speaks official blog. Retrieved on December 14, 2013.</ref><ref>{{cite pmid|20468076}}</ref> Her glutathione-related research has been cited by anti-vaccinationists such as [[Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.]] as evidence that autistic children lack sufficient glutathione to remove mercury from their bodies and are therefore more susceptible to the toxicity of mercury in vaccines.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/07/01/autism_mercury_and_politics/ | title=Autism, mercury and politics | work=[[Boston.com]] | date=1 July 2005 | accessdate=19 October 2013 | author=Kennedy, Robert F., Jr.}}</ref> On March 27 2012, the Jane Botsford Johnson Foundation awarded a $1.2 million research grant to Arkansas Children's Hospital to fund research into autism biomarkers; this research will be led by James. At the time the grant was being awarded, Johnson herself said that "Jill James' work at ACHRI holds great promise for the future of autism therapy and prevention."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thv11.com/news/article/204081/2/Foundation-donates-12-million-to-Arkansas-Childrens-Hospital | title=Jane Botsford Johnson Foundation donates to Arkansas Children's Hospital for autism research | work=THV 11 | date=27 March 2012 | accessdate=6 November 2013}}</ref>
===In vitro studies===
===In vitro studies===
Another field of her research that has attracted attention is a number of in vitro studies she has conducted regarding the toxicity of [[thimerosal]] to neuronal and glial cells; which, she has concluded, is mediated by glutathione.<ref>{{cite doi|10.1016/j.neuro.2004.07.012}}</ref> She has said that these results "suggest that these children may have an increased vulnerability to pro-oxidant environmental exposures and a lower threshold for oxidative neurotoxicity and immunotoxicity."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.autismspeaks.org/science/science-news/new-thinking-neurodevelopment | title=New Thinking on Neurodevelopment | work=[[Autism Speaks]] | date=8 October 2007 | accessdate=19 October 2013}}</ref>
Another field of her research that has attracted attention is a number of in vitro studies she has conducted regarding the toxicity of [[thimerosal]] to neuronal and glial cells; which, she has concluded, is mediated by glutathione.<ref>{{cite doi|10.1016/j.neuro.2004.07.012}}</ref> She has said that these results "suggest that these children may have an increased vulnerability to pro-oxidant environmental exposures and a lower threshold for oxidative neurotoxicity and immunotoxicity."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.autismspeaks.org/science/science-news/new-thinking-neurodevelopment | title=New Thinking on Neurodevelopment | work=[[Autism Speaks]] | date=8 October 2007 | accessdate=19 October 2013}}</ref>

Revision as of 15:21, 14 December 2013

Sandra Jill James
Alma materMills College, University of California, Los Angeles
Known forDiscovery of metabolic abnormalities in autistic children
Scientific career
FieldsAutism, Metabolism
InstitutionsArkansas Children's Hospital
ThesisAlterations in macrophage and T cell immune activity in the zinc deficient mouse (1986)

Sandra Jill James is an American biochemist and autism researcher who studies metabolic autism biomarkers. She is a member of the Autism Speaks Treatment Advisory Board,[1] and also works at Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute, where she is the director of the Metabolic Genomics Laboratory, as well as the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences's department of pediatrics, where she has worked since 2002.[2][3] Her current research focuses on the role of epigenetics in causing autism, as well as the effectiveness of supplements as a treatment for autism and the potential existence of abnormal metabolism in autistic children. This research is funded by a 5-year grant from the National Institutes of Health entitled "Metabolic biomarkers of autism: predictive potential and genetic susceptibility," as well as by a grant from Autism Speaks.[4] She is a consulting editor for the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.[5]

Education

James obtained her bachelor's degree in biology from Mills College in 1962.[6] After obtaining her PhD from UCLA in 1986 in nutritional biochemistry, she studied mechanisms of nutritional hepatocarcinogenesis at the National Center for Toxicological Research for 15 years, where she was funded by the American Cancer Society and American Association for Cancer Research.

Research

James, while at the NCTR, conducted research on the role of DNA methylation and cancer susceptibility. While James has, more recently, conducted some research regarding hyperhomocysteinemia,[7] she is best known for her autism-related research. Regarding autism, James' view is that the transsulfuration pathway is disrupted in autistic children, resulting in these children being deficient in glutathione, as well as vitamins such as vitamin B6 and vitamin B12.[8] She has also found that administering these compounds as supplements, as well as methylcobalamin and folinic acid, to autistic children can significantly restore their levels of glutathione and cysteine and may therefore be useful in the treatment of autism.[9][10] In addition, she has produced evidence that autistic children also suffer from impaired methylation capacity[11] and that, according to a study she presented at the 2005 Experimental Biology conference, they have a unique biological "fingerprint" in their blood which neurotypical children lack.[12] With regard to this particular study, James said that "One interpretation of this finding is that children with autism would be less able to detoxify and eliminate these heavy metals."[13][14] According to the official blog of Autism Speaks, James found that autistic children exhibit abnormal folate metabolism that is detectable by higher levels of plasma homocysteine, adenosine, and S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine in the mothers of these children.[15][16] Her glutathione-related research has been cited by anti-vaccinationists such as Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as evidence that autistic children lack sufficient glutathione to remove mercury from their bodies and are therefore more susceptible to the toxicity of mercury in vaccines.[17] On March 27 2012, the Jane Botsford Johnson Foundation awarded a $1.2 million research grant to Arkansas Children's Hospital to fund research into autism biomarkers; this research will be led by James. At the time the grant was being awarded, Johnson herself said that "Jill James' work at ACHRI holds great promise for the future of autism therapy and prevention."[18]

In vitro studies

Another field of her research that has attracted attention is a number of in vitro studies she has conducted regarding the toxicity of thimerosal to neuronal and glial cells; which, she has concluded, is mediated by glutathione.[19] She has said that these results "suggest that these children may have an increased vulnerability to pro-oxidant environmental exposures and a lower threshold for oxidative neurotoxicity and immunotoxicity."[20]

References

  1. ^ "Treatment Advisory Board Biographies". Autism Speaks. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  2. ^ S Jill James, PhD
  3. ^ Research
  4. ^ http://cied.uark.edu/JillJamesBiosketch.pdf
  5. ^ Editorial Board
  6. ^ "S. Jill James". University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  7. ^ Attention: This template ({{cite doi}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by doi:10.1093/hmg/10.5.433, please use {{cite journal}} (if it was published in a bona fide academic journal, otherwise {{cite report}} with |doi=10.1093/hmg/10.5.433 instead.
  8. ^ Autism Coach Product Catalog and Information Website
  9. ^ Attention: This template ({{cite pmid}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by PMID 19056591, please use {{cite journal}} with |pmid=19056591 instead.
  10. ^ Detoxification and Methylation
  11. ^ James, S. Jill (2004). "Metabolic biomarkers of increased oxidative stress and impaired methylation capacity in children with autism". Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 80 (6): 1611–1617. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  12. ^ Raloff, Janet (2005). "Blood hints at autism's source". Science News. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  13. ^ Hotz, Robert Lee (3 April 2005). "Study Links Free Radicals to the Spectrum of Autism". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  14. ^ "Autism Linked with Low Levels of Antioxidants". New York-Presbyterian Hospital. 13 April 2005. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  15. ^ More about Prenatal Folic Acid and Autism. Autism Speaks official blog. Retrieved on December 14, 2013.
  16. ^ Attention: This template ({{cite pmid}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by PMID 20468076, please use {{cite journal}} with |pmid=20468076 instead.
  17. ^ Kennedy, Robert F., Jr. (1 July 2005). "Autism, mercury and politics". Boston.com. Retrieved 19 October 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ "Jane Botsford Johnson Foundation donates to Arkansas Children's Hospital for autism research". THV 11. 27 March 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  19. ^ Attention: This template ({{cite doi}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by doi:10.1016/j.neuro.2004.07.012, please use {{cite journal}} (if it was published in a bona fide academic journal, otherwise {{cite report}} with |doi=10.1016/j.neuro.2004.07.012 instead.
  20. ^ "New Thinking on Neurodevelopment". Autism Speaks. 8 October 2007. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
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