title: Decreased Numbers of CD57+CD3- Cells Identify Potential Innate Immune Differences in Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are complex, and severe heterogeneous neurodevelopmental pathologies with accepted but complex immune system abnormalities. Additional knowledge regarding potential immune dysfunctions may provide a greater understanding of this malady. The aim of this study was to evaluate the CD57(+)CD3(-) mature lymphocyte subpopulation of natural killer cells as a marker of immune dysfunction in ASD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three-color flow cytometry-based analysis of fresh peripheral blood samples from children with autism was utilized to measure CD57(+)CD3(-) lymphocytes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A reduction of CD57(+)CD3(-) lymphocyte count was recorded in a significant number of patients with autism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We demonstrated that the number of peripheral CD57(+)CD3(-) cells in children with autism often falls below the clinically accepted normal range. This implies that a defect in the counter-regulatory functions necessary for balancing pro-inflammatory cytokines exists, thus opening the way to chronic inflammatory conditions associated with ASD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy Centre for Autism - La Forza del Silenzio, Caserta, Italy Cancellautismo - Non-profit Association for Autism Care, Florence, Italy dariosin@uab.edu.
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Siniscalco
authors.affiliation: R.E.D. Laboratories, Zellik, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mijatovic
authors.affiliation: R.E.D. Laboratories, Zellik, Belgium.
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bosmans
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Centre for Autism Research and Treatment, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cirillo
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic Laboratory of Structural Biology and Proteomics, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kruzliak
authors.affiliation: Nevada Center for Biomedical Research, Reno, NV, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Vincent C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.affiliation: Himmunitas vzw, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Kenny
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: De Meirleir
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Centre for Autism Research and Treatment, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Antonucci
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D018959:CD57 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D017252:CD3 Complex; D018959:CD57 Antigens
keywords: Autism; CD57+CD3− lymphocytes; HNK-1; immune dysfunction