Decreased transforming growth factor beta1 in autism: A potential link between i

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J Neuroimmunol. 2008 Aug 30.

Decreased transforming growth factor beta1 in autism: A potential

link between immune dysregulation and impairment in clinical

behavioral outcomes.Ashwood P, Enstrom A, Krakowiak P, Hertz-

Picciotto I, Hansen RL, Croen LA, Ozonoff S, Pessah IN, de Water JV.

Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of

California at , United States; The M.I.N.D. Institute,

University of California at , United States; Department of

Public Health Sciences, Division of Epidemiology, University of

California, at , CA, United States.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by impairment in

social interactions, communication deficits, and restricted

repetitive interests and behaviors. There is evidence of both immune

dysregulation and autoimmune phenomena in autism. We examined the

regulatory cytokine transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGFbeta1)

because of its role in controlling immune responses. Plasma levels of

active TGFbeta1 were evaluated in 75 children with ASD compared with

68 controls. Children with ASD had significantly lower plasma

TGFbeta1 levels compared with typically developing controls

(p=0.0017) and compared with children with developmental disabilities

other than ASD (p=0.0037), after adjusting for age and gender. In

addition, there were significant correlations between psychological

measures and TGFbeta1 levels, such that lower TGFbeta1 levels were

associated with lower adaptive behaviors and worse behavioral

symptoms. The data suggest that immune responses in autism may be

inappropriately regulated due to reductions in TGFbeta1. Such immune

dysregulation may predispose to the development of possible

autoimmune responses and/or adverse neuroimmune interactions during

critical windows in development.

PMID: 18762342 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]