title: Humoral immunity and autism spectrum disorders.
abstract: Abnormal immune activation, particularly of a humoral nature, has consistently been described in the etiopathogenesis of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In this journal, Mead and Ashwood (2015) reviewed immune abnormalities in autism and linked them to severity of classic autistic symptoms. However, there remains a lack of clarity as to how environmental risk factors in ASD may contribute to such immunophenotypes. The evidence presented herein highlights these immune deficits of a humoral nature in ASD. Moreover, aligned with prior research showing a link between chronic air pollution and suppression of humoral immunity, the author of this commentary has proposed that environmental exposure to pervasive air pollutants, particularly nitrous oxide (N2O), may target several anti-inflammatory biomarkers, including alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) inhibition and stimulation of kappa opioid receptor (KOR) activity. Given that these physiological targets, in particular, may promote the oft-noted humoral immunophenotypes in ASD, including B cell survival and muted antibody responses, this correspondence supports an existing line of evidence that air pollution, and particularly exposure to environmental N2O, may be an important etiological risk factor in ASD.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Environmental Research, P.O. Box 18442, Cleveland, OH, 44118, USA. Electronic address: keithfluegge@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fluegge
mesh_terms: D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D056724:Immunity, Humoral; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000009:adverse effects; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa / Q000378:metabolism*; D012307:Risk Factors; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor; D009609:Nitrous Oxide
keywords: Alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor; Antibody-mediated immunity; Autism; Dynorphin; Kappa opioid receptor; Nitrous oxide