Circulating autoantibodies to neuronal and glial filament proteins in autism.
Autoimmunity may be a pathogenic factor in autism, a behavioral disorder of early childhood onset. Circulating autoantibodies are produced in organ-specific autoimmunity; therefore, we investigated them in the plasma of autistic subjects, mentally retarded (MR) subjects, and healthy controls. Autoantibodies (IgG isotype) to neuron-axon filament protein (anti-NAFP) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (anti-GFAP) were analyzed by the Western immunoblotting technique. We found a significant increase in incidence of anti-NAFP (P = .004) and anti-GFAP (P = .002) in autistic subjects, but not in MR subjects. Clinically, these autoantibodies may be related to autoimmune pathology in autism.
Singh
V K
VK
Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109-1065, USA.
Warren
R
R
Averett
R
R
Ghaziuddin
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins