B lymphocyte antigen D8/17 and repetitive behaviors in autism.
OBJECTIVE
Monoclonal antibody D8/17 identifies a B lymphocyte antigen with expanded expression in rheumatic fever, Sydenham's chorea, and subgroups of obsessive-compulsive disorder and Tourette's syndrome with repetitive behaviors. The authors examined the rate of D8/17 expression in children with autism and its correlation with severity of repetitive behaviors.


METHODS
Blood samples from 18 patients with autism and 14 comparable medically ill children were evaluated for percentage of D8/17-positive B cells by immunofluorescence and for streptococcal antibodies. Severity of repetitive behaviors was also determined.


RESULTS
The frequency of individuals with > or =11% D8/17-positive cells was significantly higher in the autistic patients (78%) than the comparison subjects (21%), severity of repetitive behaviors significantly correlated with D8/17 expression, and D8/17-positive patients had significantly higher compulsion scores than D8/17-negative patients.


CONCLUSIONS
D8/17 expression is high in patients with autism and may serve as a marker for compulsion severity within autism.
Hollander
E
E
Department of Psychiatry and the Seaver Autism Research Center, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA. e_hollander@smtplink.mssm.edu
DelGiudice-Asch
G
G
Simon
L
L
Schmeidler
J
J
Cartwright
C
C
DeCaria
C M
CM
Kwon
J
J
Cunningham-Rundles
C
C
Chapman
F
F
Zabriskie
J B
JB
D000293:Adolescent; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology; D015415:Biomarkers; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000523:psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index