Maternal antibody-mediated dyslexia? Evidence for a pathogenic serum factor in a mother of two dyslexic children shown by transfer to mice using behavioural studies and magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
The causes of dyslexia are unknown, but previous studies have suggested an immunological basis in some cases. We hypothesised that maternal antibodies, which cross the placenta and bind to fetal antigens, could be responsible, particularly when the dyslexia recurs in consecutive pregnancies. We injected serum samples from five mothers of two or more children with dyslexia into pregnant mice, and tested the offspring for behavioural abnormalities and cerebellar metabolites by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Mice exposed in utero to serum factors from one woman with two dyslexic children, who had also had three spontaneous fetal losses, showed deficits in motor tests which correlated with cerebellar choline (Cho) and creatine (Cr) levels. These preliminary results are consistent with a role for maternal serum factors, probably antibodies, in causing some of the features of dyslexia, and possibly in other neurodevelopmental disorders.
Vincent
Angela
A
Neurosciences Group, Department of Clinical Neurology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, OX3 9DS, Oxford, UK. Angela.vincent@imm.ox.ac.uk
Deacon
Robert
R
Dalton
Paola
P
Salmond
Claire
C
Blamire
Andrew M
AM
Pendlebury
Sarah
S
Johansen-Berg
Heidi
H
Rajogopalan
Bheeshma
B
Styles
Peter
P
Stein
John
J
D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002524:Cerebellar Ataxia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004410:Dyslexia / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired / Q000276:immunology*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy
D001323:Autoantibodies; D001798:Blood Proteins