title: How relevant are GFAP autoantibodies in autism and Tourette Syndrome?
abstract: Controversy exists over the role of autoantibodies to central nervous system antigens in autism and Tourette Syndrome. We investigated plasma autoantibody titers to glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in children with classic onset (33) and regressive onset (26) autism, controls (25, healthy age- and gender-matched) and individuals with Tourette Syndrome (24) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. We found a significant difference in autoantibody titers to GFAP, not accounted for by age, between the Tourette (significantly lower) and regressive autism groups. However, no differences were found between: classic/regressive; classic/controls; classic/Tourette; regressive/controls; or controls/Tourette. Autoantibody responses against GFAP are unlikely to play a pathogenic role in autism or Tourette Syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Utah, 30 North 1900 East, 3R330 SOM, Salt Lake City, UT 84132-2305, USA.
authors.forename: Nikki J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Kirkman
authors.forename: Jane E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Libbey
authors.forename: Thayne L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Sweeten
authors.forename: Hilary H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Coon
authors.forename: Judith N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Edward K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Stevenson
authors.forename: Janet E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lainhart
authors.forename: William M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Fujinami
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D005879:Tourette Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein