Autism and brain's immune system linked, says study

AORN Journal, Feb, 2005

Researchers have found evidence that the brains of some people with autism show clear signs of inflammation, suggesting that the disease may be associated with activation of the brain's immune system, according to a Nov 15, 2004, news release from Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore. The findings support the theory that immune response in the brain is involved in autism, although it is not clear whether the inflammation is a cause or a consequence of the disease.

Researchers examined tissue from three regions of the brain in 11 people with autism, aged five to 44 years, who had died of injuries. They a[so measured levels of two immune system proteins, cytokines and chemokines, found in the cerebrospinal fluid in six living patients with autism, aged five to 12 years.

Compared with normal control brains, the brains of people with autism showed evidence of an ongoing inflammatory process in different regions of the brain. Cytokine and chemokine levels in the cerebrospinal fluid also were elevated in patients with autism. The findings may provide a good starting point for developing new treatments.

Brain's Immune System Triggered in Autism (news release, Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Medicine, Nov 15, 2004) http:// www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Press_releases/2004/11_15a_04 .html (accessed 8 Dec 2004).