CNTF and autism spectrum disorder: Moreover, Al-Mazidi [20] suggested that Disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain-containing protein 10 (ADAM10) and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), which could facilitate the shedding of membrane proteins involved in vascular signaling, affecting the development and maintenance of retinal vessels, were biomarkers of schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder who often had lower levels of empathy.