Proinflammatory and regulatory cytokine production associated with innate and adaptive immune responses in children with autism spectrum disorders and developmental regression

• Published in: Journal of neuroimmunology 2001-11, Vol.120 (1), p.170-179
• Main Authors: Jyonouchi, Harumi, Sun, Sining, Le, Hoa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation, Physiological - immunology; Adaptive immune responses; Adolescent; Autism spectrum disorders; Autistic Disorder - immunology; Causality; Child; Child, Preschool; Cytokines - immunology; Cytokines - metabolism; Developmental Disabilities - immunology; Dietary Proteins - adverse effects; Dietary Proteins - immunology; Environmental Exposure - adverse effects; Female; Humans; Immune System - immunology; Immune System - physiopathology; Immunization - adverse effects; Infection - complications; Infection - immunology; Inflammation - immunology; Innate immunity; interleukin 1b; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - immunology; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - metabolism; Male; neurodevelopmental disorders; Regression (Psychology)
• ISSN: 0165-5728; 1872-8421
• DOI: 10.1016/S0165-5728(01)00421-0

We determined innate and adaptive immune responses in children with developmental regression and autism spectrum disorders (ASD, N=71), developmentally normal siblings ( N=23), and controls ( N=17). With lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a stimulant for innate immunity, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 59/71 (83.1%) ASD patients produced >2 SD above the control mean (CM) values of TNF-α, IL-1β, and/or IL-6 produced by control PBMCs. ASD PBMCs produced higher levels of proinflammatory/counter-regulatory cytokines without stimuli than controls. With stimulants of phytohemagglutinin (PHA), tetanus, IL-12p70, and IL-18, PBMCs from 47.9% to 60% of ASD patients produced >2 SD above the CM values of TNF-α depending on stimulants. Our results indicate excessive innate immune responses in a number of ASD children that may be most evident in TNF-α production.