title: Inflammatory profiles in the BTBR mouse: how relevant are they to autism spectrum disorders?
abstract: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of disorders characterized by core behavioral features including stereotyped interests, repetitive behaviors and impairments in communication and social interaction. In addition, widespread changes in the immune systems of individuals with ASD have been identified, in particular increased evidence of inflammation in the periphery and central nervous system. While the etiology of these disorders remains unclear, it appears that multiple gene and environmental factors are involved. The need for animal models paralleling the behavioral and immunological features of ASD is paramount to better understand the link between immune system dysregulation and behavioral deficits observed in these disorders. As such, the asocial BTBR mouse strain displays both ASD relevant behaviors and persistent immune dysregulation, providing a model system that has and continues to be instructive in understanding the complex nature of ASD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, UC Davis, United States; The M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California at Davis, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Milo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Careaga
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Education, Mount Holyoke College, 50 College Street, South Hadley, MA 01075, United States.
authors.forename: Jared
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schwartzer
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, UC Davis, United States; The M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California at Davis, CA, United States. Electronic address: pashwood@ucdavis.edu.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ashwood
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D010641:Phenotype; D012919:Social Behavior
keywords: ASD; Autism; BTBR; Immune; Inflammation; Model; Mouse