Immune dysregulation in autism spectrum disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common and severe neuro-developmental disorder in early childhood which is defined by social and communication deficits and repetitive and stereotypic behaviours. The aetiology of ASD remains poorly understood. Susceptibility to development of ASD has significant...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of pediatrics 2014, Vol.173 (1), p.33-43
Main Authors: Noriega, Daniela Briceno, Savelkoul, Huub F. J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antibiotics
antibrain antibodies
Autism
brain
Child
Child Development Disorders, Pervasive - complications
Child Development Disorders, Pervasive - immunology
Child, Preschool
children
Cytokines
Genes
Genetic disorders
Humans
Immune system
Immune System Diseases - etiology
Immunology
Inflammation
Intellectual disabilities
maternal infection
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Mutation
Nutrition
Pediatrics
pervasive developmental disorders
Pregnancy
Proteins
proximal 15q
Review
Risk Factors
twin pairs
vitamin-d
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common and severe neuro-developmental disorder in early childhood which is defined by social and communication deficits and repetitive and stereotypic behaviours. The aetiology of ASD remains poorly understood. Susceptibility to development of ASD has significant environmental components, in addition to the profound genetic heritability. Few genes have been associated to the risk for ASD development. There is substantial evidence implicating chronic neurological inflammation and immune dysregulation leading to upregulation of inflammatory cytokines in the ASD brain, probably due to altered blood–brain barrier function. The immune system is characterized by excessive and skewed cytokine responses, modulated T cell reactivity, decreased regulation and production of immunosuppressive cytokines, modified NK function and increased autoantibody production. Conclusion: The perinatal environment generates vulnerability to chronic neuro-inflammation in the brain associated with profound modulation and dysregulation in the immune system leading to the rapid development of ASD in genetically susceptible children.
ISSN:0340-6199
1432-1076
DOI:10.1007/s00431-013-2183-4