title: Immune abnormalities in patients with autism.
abstract: We have begun an investigation on the immune systems of patients with autism in attempt to determine if immune mechanisms are involved in the development of this severe developmental disorder. A study of 31 autistic patients has revealed several immune-system abnormalities, including reduced responsiveness in the lymphocyte blastogenesis assay to phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A, and pokeweed mitogen; decreased numbers of T lymphocytes; and an altered ratio of helper to suppressor T cells. Immune-system abnormalities may be directly related to underlying biologic processes of autism, or these changes may be an indirect reflection of the actual pathologic mechanism.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000032:analysis; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000032:analysis; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D003208:Concanavalin A