Autoimmunity, Autoantibodies, and Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Auism spectrum disorder (ASD) now affects one in 68 births in the United States and is the fastest growing neurodevelopmental disability worldwide. Alarmingly, for the majority of cases, the causes of ASD are largely unknown, but it is becoming increasingly accepted that ASD is no longer defined simply as a behavioral disorder, but rather as a highly complex and heterogeneous biological disorder. Although research has focused on the identification of genetic abnormalities, emerging studies increasingly suggest that immune dysfunction is a viable risk factor contributing to the neurodevelopmental deficits observed in ASD. This review summarizes the investigations implicating autoimmunity and autoantibodies in ASD.
Division of Rheumatology/Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California; The M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California, Davis, Davis, California.
Elizabeth
E
Edmiston
The M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California, Davis, Davis, California; NIEHS Center for Children's Environmental Health, University of California, Davis, Davis, California; Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California.
Paul
P
Ashwood
Division of Rheumatology/Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California; The M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California, Davis, Davis, California; NIEHS Center for Children's Environmental Health, University of California, Davis, Davis, California. Electronic address: javandewater@ucdavis.edu.
Judy
J
Van de Water
D000818:Animals; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D015551:Autoimmunity; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors
D001323:Autoantibodies
Autism; Autoimmunity; Immune; Maternal autoantibodies; Neurodevelopmental; Pregnancy