The Immune System's role in ASD

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Curr Opin Neurol. <javascript:AL_get(this, 'jour', 'Curr Opin

Neurol.');> 2010 Feb 12. [Epub ahead of print]

The immune system's role in the biology of autism.

Goines P

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Goines%20P%22%5BAuthor%5D & itool=Entr\

ezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstract>,

Van de Water J

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Van%20de%20Water%20J%22%5BAuthor%5D & \

itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstract>.

aDivision of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, USA bThe

M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California at , USA cNIEHS Center

for Children's Environmental Health, University of California, ,

California, USA.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The following is a review of the most recent research

concerning the potential role of immune system dysfunction in autism.

This body of literature has expanded dramatically over the past few

years as researchers continue to identify immune anomalies in

individuals with autism. RECENT FINDINGS: The most exciting of these

recent findings is the discovery of autoantibodies targeting brain

proteins in both children with autism and their mothers. In particular,

circulating maternal autoantibodies directed toward fetal brain proteins

are highly specific for autism. This finding has great potential as a

biomarker for disease risk and may provide an avenue for future

therapeutics and prevention. Additionally, data concerning the cellular

immune system in children with autism suggest there may be a defect in

signaling pathways that are shared by the immune and central nervous

systems. Although studies to explore this hypothesis are ongoing, there

is great interest in the commonalities between the neural and immune

systems and their extensive interactions. SUMMARY: In summary, the

exciting research regarding the role of the immune system in autism

spectrum disorders may have profound implications for diagnosis and

treatment of this devastating disease.

PMID: 20160651 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20160651?itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.P\

ubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum & ordinalpos=10