Maternal Autoantibodies

[Guest guest]

Primary Author's Institution/Affiliation

University of California,

Abstract Title

INCREASED PREVALENCE OF MATERNAL AUTOANTIBODIES AGAINST FETAL BRAIN IN

AUTISM

List of Authors

D. A. Braunschweig, P. Ashwood, J. A. Van de Water*, I. Hertz-Picciotto,

R. Hansen, L. Croen

Enter your abstract here

Background: While there presently is no clear etiology for autism,

published reports have demonstrated associations between genetic

factors, environmental toxins and abnormal immune responses with the

development of autism. Transplacental passage of pathogenic maternal IgG

antibodies from mothers with various systemic autoimmune disorders has

been linked with the etiology of a number of fetal disorders including

neonatal Lupus and Myasthenia Gravis. Thus, we propose that among a

subgroup of susceptible individuals, transplacental transfer of maternal

IgG antibodies may play a role in the etiology of autism.

Objective: We sought to analyze serum from the mothers of children with

autism for the presence of IgG directed against human fetal brain

proteins by of Western blot analysis. Methods: Sera from more than 200

mothers of children with autism, aged-matched typically developing

controls, and children with other developmental disabilities were

analyzed by Western blot against human fetal brain proteins.

Results: Significant differences in the prevalence and specificities of

maternal IgG antibodies directed against fetal brain derived from

mothers of autistic children compared with that from mothers of

typically developing and disease controls was noted. Antibody reactivity

was over two-fold more prevalent among mothers of autism patients

compared with mothers of typically developing controls and could be

separated into three distinct regions including bands at approximately

40kD, 57kD and a doublet of bands at approximately 70kD.

Conclusions: These preliminary findings suggest that serum antibodies

from mothers who have children with autism may react against fetal brain

proteins and may have detrimental effects during neurodevelopment.

[These studies were funded by NIEHS grant 1 P01 ES11269-01.]

[Guest guest]

I was researching tonight and actually came across this article before

you just posted. How ironic! Anyways, after reading it online and then

here I feel so sad and really responsible. It brings to my

mind " refrigerator mom " but in a new light...maybe it wasn't about a

mom being too " cold " for her child. Now it's about having the wrong

kind of " serum antibodies " which ultimately harmed my child. I know

this is about science, but I still feel a responsiblity and a sadness

reading this.

Kristie...recently discovered I scored a positive ANA (anti nuclear

antibodies)

mommy to Aidan 2.10 today