Immune system, blood altered in autism

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Immune system, blood altered in autism

ISLAMABAD: Children with autism show different immune system

responses from children without the condition, and these might be

measured in the blood for a possible screening test, U.S.

researchers reported on Thursday.

Two studies presented to a conference on autism help support other

research that suggests subtle differences in the immune function of

children with autism.

Autism is a brain disorder usually seen as children become toddlers.

Affecting an estimated two to five out of every 1,000 children,

autism has a spectrum of symptoms that include difficulty with

social interaction and repetitive behaviors.

No one knows what causes autism, although experts have largely

rejected purported links with childhood vaccines.

Scientists at the 4th International Meeting for Autism Research in

Boston presented studies looking at the blood of children with

autism.

Judy Van de Water of the University of California, , and

colleagues separated immune cells from 30 children with autism and

26 non-autistic children aged 2 to 5. They mixed in toxins and

bacteria.

In response to bacteria, the researchers saw lower levels of immune

signaling proteins called cytokines in the group with autism. These

children also had irregular responses to a plant protein, but not to

other toxins or to a measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.

" Understanding the biology of autism is crucial to developing better

ways to diagnose and treat it, " Van de Water said in a statement.

A second team at the same center took blood samples from 70 children

aged 4 to 6 with autism and from 35 other children.

The children with autism had 20 percent more immune system cells

called B cells and 40 percent more natural killer cells.

There also seemed to be differences in other proteins in the blood,

although the researchers are still sifting through the data.

" From these results we think it is highly likely that there are

differences we can detect in blood samples that will be predictive

of the disorder, though we are still some years away from having an

actual diagnostic blood test for autism, " said researcher

Amaral, who led the study.

What good would this do, as there is no cure?

" There is a growing view among experts that not all children with

autism are 'doomed to autism' at birth, " Amaral said in a statement.

" It may be that some children have a vulnerability, such as a

genetic abnormality, and that something they encounter after being

born, perhaps in their environment, triggers the disorder, " he

added.

" Studying the biological signs of autism could lead to new ways to

prevent the disorder from ever occurring. And even if it can't be

prevented, intervening early in life -- ideally shortly after birth -

- could greatly improve the lifetime outlook for children with

autism. "