Autism Studies and Related Medical Conditions, January 2009 - TACA

cytokines were measured using specific antibodies to various cytokines and anti-
CD4 or anti-CD8 monoclonal antibodies by FACScan. Proportions of IFNgamma+CD4+
T cells and IL-2+CD4+ T cells (Th1), and IFN-gamma+CD8+ and
IL-2+CD8+ T cells (TC1) were significantly lower in autistic children as compared
to healthy controls. In contrast, IL-4+CD4+ T cells (Th2) and IL-4+CD8+ T cells
(TC2) were significantly increased in autism. The proportions of IL-6+ CD4+, IL-
6+CD8+ and IL-10+CD4+, IL-10+CD8+ T cells were comparable in autism and
control group. These data suggest that an imbalance of Th1- and Th2-like
cytokines in autism may play a role in the pathogenesis of autism.
PMID: 9627004 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Singh VK, Warren R, Averett R, Ghaziuddin M. Circulating autoantibodies to neuronal
and glial filament proteins in autism. Pediatr Neurol. 1997 Jul;17(1):88-90.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109-1065, USA.
Autoimmunity may be a pathogenic factor in autism, a behavioral disorder of
early childhood onset. Circulating autoantibodies are produced in organ-specific
autoimmunity; therefore, we investigated them in the plasma of autistic subjects,
mentally retarded (MR) subjects, and healthy controls. Autoantibodies (IgG
isotype) to neuron-axon filament protein (anti-NAFP) and glial fibrillary acidic
protein (anti-GFAP) were analyzed by the Western immunoblotting technique.
We found a significant increase in incidence of anti-NAFP (P = .004) and anti-
GFAP (P = .002) in autistic subjects, but not in MR subjects. Clinically, these
autoantibodies may be related to autoimmune pathology in autism.
PMID: 9308986 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Singh VK, Warren RP, Odell JD, Warren WL, Cole P. Antibodies to myelin basic protein
in children with autistic behavior. Brain Behav Immun. 1993 Mar;7(1):97-103.
Biomedical Division, Center for Persons with Disabilities, Logan, Utah.
Based on a possible pathological relationship of autoimmunity to autism,
antibodies reactive with myelin basic protein (anti-MBP) were investigated in the
sera of autistic children. Using a screening serum dilution of 1:400 in the proteinimmunoblotting
technique, approximately 58% (19 of 33) sera of autistic
children (< or = 10 years of age) were found to be positive for anti-MBP. This
result in autistics was significantly (p < or = .0001) different from the controls (8
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