Autism linked to altered immunity
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Friday, 6 May 2005 |
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Two new studies add to the evidence that some children with autism have an altered immune response (Image: iStockphoto) |
Children
with
autism
show
different
immune
system
responses
compared
with
other
children,
say US
researchers.
Two
studies
presented
to a
conference
on
autism
this
week
help to
support
other
research
that
suggests
subtle
differences
in the
immune
function
of
children
with
autism.
Autism
is a
brain
disorder
usually
seen as
children
become
toddlers.
It has a
spectrum
of
symptoms
that
include
difficulty
with
social
interaction
and
repetitive
behaviours.
No one
knows
what
causes
autism,
although
experts
have
largely
rejected
links
with
childhood
vaccines.
Scientists
at the
4th
International
Meeting
for
Autism
Research
in
Boston
presented
studies
looking
at the
blood of
children
with
autism.
Dr Judy
Van de
Water of
the
University
of
California,
Davis,
and
colleagues
separated
immune
cells
from 30
children
with
autism
and 26
non-autistic
children
aged two
to five
years.
They
mixed in
toxins
and
bacteria.
In
response
to
bacteria,
the
researchers
saw
lower
levels
of
immune
signalling
proteins
called
cytokines
in the
group
with
autism.
These
children
also had
irregular
responses
to a
plant
protein,
but not
to other
toxins
or to a
measles,
mumps
and
rubella
vaccine.
"Understanding
the
biology
of
autism
is
crucial
to
developing
better
ways to
diagnose
and
treat
it," Van
de Water
says.
More
evidence
A second
team at
the same
centre
took
blood
samples
from 70
children
aged
four to
six with
autism
and from
35 other
children.
The
children
with
autism
had 20%
more
immune
system
cells
called B
cells
and 40%
more
natural
killer
cells.
There
also
seemed
to be
differences
in other
proteins
in the
blood,
although
the
researchers
are
still
sifting
through
the
data.
"From
these
results
we think
it is
highly
likely
that
there
are
differences
we can
detect
in blood
samples
that
will be
predictive
of the
disorder,
though
we are
still
some
years
away
from
having
an
actual
diagnostic
blood
test for
autism,"
says
researcher
Professor
David
Amaral,
who led
the
study.
"There
is a
growing
view
among
experts
that not
all
children
with
autism
are
'doomed
to
autism'
at
birth,"
Amaral
says.
"It may
be that
some
children
have a
vulnerability,
such as
a
genetic
abnormality,
and that
something
they
encounter
after
being
born,
perhaps
in their
environment,
triggers
the
disorder,"
he adds.
"Studying
the
biological
signs of
autism
could
lead to
new ways
to
prevent
the
disorder
from
ever
occurring.
And even
if it
can't be
prevented,
intervening
early in
life,
ideally
shortly
after
birth,
could
greatly
improve
the
lifetime
outlook
for
children
with
autism."
www.cidpusa.org
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http://www.cidpusa.org/disease.html
http://www.cidpusa.org/Lahore.html
B-12
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