title: Case report: cytokine and CD4+ T-cell profiles of monozygotic twins with autism and divergent comorbidities and drug treatment.
abstract: Autism spectrum disorders are neurodevelopmental disorders that are thought to be caused by a gene-by-environment interaction and in which various immune alterations are reported. We investigate CD4(+) T-cell cytokine profiles and subpopulations in 19-year-old monozygotic twins with autism and different comorbidities. CD4(+) T cells from the twin with epilepsy produce more interferon-gamma, less interleukin-17, and have an increased interferon-γ/interleukin-4 ratio. CD4(+) T cells from the twin with multiple sclerosis exhibit a cytokine profile similar to an age and gender-matched control and a higher percentage of T regulatory (Treg) cells. The twins' mother's T cells produce very high levels of both interleukin-17 and interferon-γ. Cytokine and CD4(+) T-cell abnormalities in the twins could contribute to or be a result of the manifestation of their divergent comorbidities. A proinflammatory, autoimmune-polarized cytokine profile is observed in this unique family with autism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurosciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Magid-Bernstein
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Kedar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mahajan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Medical School, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lincoln
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurosciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ming
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurosciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA rohowscm@njms.rutgers.edu.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rohowsky-Kochan
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000473:pathology; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines
keywords: autism; autoimmunity; monozygotic twins; multiple sclerosis