title: Immune dysfunction and neuroinflammation in autism spectrum disorder.
abstract: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder with a complex pathogenesis. Many studies over the last four decades have recognized altered immune responses among individuals diagnosed with ASD. The purpose of this critical and comprehensive review is to examine the hypothesis that immune dysfunction is present more frequently, and it is related to ASD in humans. It was found that that often individuals diagnosed with ASD have alterations in immune cells such as T cells, B cells, monocytes, natural killer cells, and dendritic cells. Also, many individuals diagnosed with ASD have alterations in immunoglobulins and increased autoantibodies. Finally, an important portion of individuals diagnosed with ASD has elevated peripheral cytokines and chemokines and associated neuroinflammation. In conclusion, immune dysregulation and inflammation are important components of ASD diagnosis and are key components of the diagnosis and treatment of ASD.
authors.affiliation: Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, Mo i Rana, Norway, bjorklund@conem.org.
authors.forename: Geir
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bjorklund
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
authors.forename: Khaled
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saad
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological and Movement Science, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chirumbolo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., Silver Spring, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Janet K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kern
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., Silver Spring, MD, USA.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Geier
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., Silver Spring, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Geier
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.
authors.forename: Mauricio A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Urbina
mesh_terms: D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000150:complications*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines