Mastocytosis

[Guest guest]

Has anyone done any research on Mastocytosis connection to Autism? I

have been doing some research and have found the folowing. I thought

it may be of some interest to some of you, as it was to me.

Please read the info below. Please let me know if any of you have

come across this,

Thanks, Logan's Dad,

Don

Autism is five to seven times higher in patients with a rare disease

called mastocytosis, a discovery that may have just uncovered a vital

clue to a biological cause that contributes to autism, according to a

recent published report authored by a Brookline researcher.

Mastocytosis is a disease where tissues, such as skin and intestines,

contain more mast cells than is typical, which are also hyperactive

to various triggers. Researchers in the past thought mast cells were

only involved in allergic reactions and reacted to such triggers as

pollen and animal hair.

Dr. Theoharis Theoharides, a Tufts professor from Brookline and the

lead author in the report published in the journal " Trends in

Pharmacological Sciences, " was the first to show that non-allergic

triggers such as stress and viruses can also activate mast cells.

" There's been research going on for 20 years about the mast cell, "

Theoharides said. " It was always taught that this cell was involved

in allergenic reactions. But only about 10 to 12 percent of people

get an allergic reaction. So if the mast cell is also in the non-

allergic people, what does it do? "

More questions arose for Theoharides after hearing from mastocytosis

patients how many had at least one family member with both

mastocytosis and autism.

After conducting a survey through the Mastocytosis Society's database

of 400 patients, the results showed incidences of autism five to

seven times higher than the highest national reported rate (which is

reportedly one out of 180).

" It was fascinating that there was such a relationship between autism

and mastocytosis, " Theoharides said.

The new discovery of the role of mast cells in the body may provide

more insight into autism, especially since there are mast cells

connected with the brain.

" The role of the mast cell in the brain is not as well understood, "

said Slee, vice chair of the Mastocytosis Society. " We do

know patients who have mast cell disorders do have central nervous

system symptoms. "

Theoharides is currently asking for funding to conduct various

studies to investigate the relationship between mast cell activation

and autism. It was previously thought that autism was linked

to " leaky gut " theory (the idea that mercury preservatives in

vaccines administered to children were involved, which several

studies have since disproved).

Theoharides stressed that his thinking goes beyond that theory.

" We're looking for triggers that are likely to stimulate mast cells

in both the gut and the brain, especially at the vulnerable ages of 1

to 4 years, " Theoharides said.

His hypothesis is that some food, stress-related or viral trigger

could activate the mast cells in the intestine, which would cause the

cells to release small molecules called cytokines. These cytokines

would then disrupt the protective lining of the blood vessels in the

gut and the brain, allowing neurotoxins to enter the brain.

" So because the protective layer of the brain has been disrupted, it

allows noxious substances carried in the blood to enter the brain, "

Theoharides said. " When they reach the brain, it can cause an

inflammation of the brain, which could cause or contribute to autism. "

Theoharides said he's contacted several organizations to assist with

funding for a clinical study into his hypothesis, including the

National Institute of Health, the NLM Family Foundation and Autism

Speaks.

Theoharides works at Tufts University as professor of pharmacology,

internal medicine and biochemistry, as well as the director of the

Molecular Immunopharmacology and Drug Discovery Laboratory.