title: Plasma increase of interleukin-12 and interferon-gamma. Pathological significance in autism.
abstract: Immune factors such as autoimmunity have been implicated in the genesis of autism, a neurodevelopmental disorder. Since autoimmune response involves immune activation, the plasma levels of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-12 (IL-12), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) were measured in autistic patients and age-matched normal controls. The levels of IL-12 and IFN-gamma were significantly (P < or = 0.05) higher in patients as compared to controls. However, IFN-alpha, IL-6, TNF-alpha, and sICAM-1 levels did not significantly differ between the two groups. Because macrophage-derived IL-12 is known to selectively induce IFN-gamma in T helper type-1 (Th-1) cells, it is suggested that IL-12 and IFN-gamma increases may indicate antigenic stimulation of Th-1 cells pathogenetically linked to autoimmunity in autism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, School of Medicine, Ann Arbor 48109-0656, USA.
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma