Autism Studies and Related Medical Conditions, January 2009 - TACA

Warren RP, Cole P, Odell JD, Pingree CB, Warren WL, White E, Yonk J, Singh VK.
Detection of maternal antibodies in infantile autism. J Am Acad Child Adolesc
Psychiatry. 1990 Nov;29(6):873-7.
Developmental Center for Handicapped Persons, Utah State University, Logan
84322.
Maternal antibodies reactive with antigenic proteins expressed on the cell surface
of paternal lymphocytes can be detected in couples with histories of more than
one miscarriage or stillbirth. It is possible, but not proven, that these antibodies
also react with tissues of the fetus and result in fetal death. Since many mothers
of autistic children have a history of pregnancy disorder, antibodies were studied
in 11 mothers of autistic children who were 6 years of age or younger. Six of the
mothers had antibodies that reacted with lymphocytes of the autistic child. Five
of these six mothers had a history of pregnancy disorder. Since antigens
expressed on lymphocytes are found on cells of the central nervous system and,
perhaps, other tissues of the developing embryo, it is suggested that aberrant
maternal immunity may be associated with the development of some cases of
infantile autism.
PMID: 2273013 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Warren RP, Foster A, Margaretten NC. Reduced natural killer cell activity in autism. J
Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1987 May;26(3):333-5.
Warren RP, Foster A, Margaretten NC.
PMID: 3597287 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Warren RP, Singh VK, Averett RE, Odell JD, Maciulis A, Burger RA, Daniels WW, Warren
WL. Immunogenetic studies in autism and related disorders. Mol Chem Neuropathol.
1996 May-Aug;28(1-3):77-81.
Utah State University, Logan 84322, USA.
The major histocompatibility complex comprises a number of genes that control
the function and regulation of the immune system. One of these genes, the C4B
gene, encodes a product that is involved in eliminating pathogens such as
viruses and bacteria from the body. We previously reported that a deficient form
of the C4B gene, termed the C4B null allele (no C4B protein produced) had an
increased frequently in autism. In this study we attempted to confirm the
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