title: Toward an immune-mediated subtype of autism spectrum disorder.
abstract: A role for immunological involvement in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has long been hypothesized. This review includes four sections describing (1) evidence for a relationship between familial autoimmune disorders and ASD; (2) results from post-mortem and neuroimaging studies that investigated aspects of neuroinflammation in ASD; (3) findings from animal model work in ASD involving inflammatory processes; and (4) outcomes from trials of anti-inflammatory/immune-modulating drugs in ASD that have appeared in the literature. Following each section, ideas are provided for future research, suggesting paths forward in the continuing effort to define the role of immune factors and inflammation in the pathophysiology of a subtype of ASD. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled SI: Neuroimmunology in Health And Disease.
authors.affiliation: Lurie Center for Autism, Lexington, MA, United States; Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States. Electronic address: cmcdougle@partners.org.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: McDougle
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Genetics Laboratory, Belmont, MA, United States; McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States.
authors.forename: Samantha M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Landino
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.
authors.forename: Arshya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vahabzadeh
authors.affiliation: Lurie Center for Autism, Lexington, MA, United States; Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: O'Rourke
authors.affiliation: Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, United States; Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.
authors.forename: Nicole R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Zurcher
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Genetics Laboratory, Belmont, MA, United States; McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.
authors.forename: Beate C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Finger
authors.affiliation: Lurie Center for Autism, Lexington, MA, United States; Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Palumbo
authors.affiliation: Lurie Center for Autism, Lexington, MA, United States; Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Helt
authors.affiliation: Lurie Center for Autism, Lexington, MA, United States; Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.
authors.forename: Jennifer E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mullett
authors.affiliation: Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, United States; Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.
authors.forename: Jacob M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hooker
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Genetics Laboratory, Belmont, MA, United States; McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Carlezon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D007369:Interferon Inducers / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007369:Interferon Inducers
keywords: Animal models; Autism spectrum disorder; Autoimmune disorders; Immunology; Neuroimaging; Pathophysiology; Post-mortem; Psychopharmacology