%0 Journal Article
%T Increased midgestational IFN-¦Ã, IL-4 and IL-5 in women bearing a child with autism: A case-control study
%A Paula E Goines
%A Lisa A Croen
%A Daniel Braunschweig
%A Cathleen K Yoshida
%A Judith Grether
%A Robin Hansen
%A Martin Kharrazi
%A Paul Ashwood
%A Judy Van de Water
%J Molecular Autism
%D 2011
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/2040-2392-2-13
%X Using Luminex technology, levels of 17 cytokines and chemokines were measured in banked serum collected from women at 15 to 19 weeks of gestation who gave birth to a child ultimately diagnosed with (1) ASD (n = 84), (2) a developmental delay (DD) but not autism (n = 49) or (3) no known developmental disability (general population (GP); n = 159). ASD and DD risk associated with maternal cytokine and chemokine levels was estimated by using multivariable logistic regression analysis.Elevated concentrations of IFN-¦Ã, IL-4 and IL-5 in midgestation maternal serum were significantly associated with a 50% increased risk of ASD, regardless of ASD onset type and the presence of intellectual disability. By contrast, elevated concentrations of IL-2, IL-4 and IL-6 were significantly associated with an increased risk of DD without autism.The profile of elevated serum IFN-¦Ã, IL-4 and IL-5 was more common in women who gave birth to a child subsequently diagnosed with ASD. An alternative profile of increased IL-2, IL-4 and IL-6 was more common for women who gave birth to a child subsequently diagnosed with DD without autism. Further investigation is needed to characterize the relationship between these divergent maternal immunological phenotypes and to evaluate their effect on neurodevelopment.Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental diseases that manifest in early childhood. Individuals with ASD demonstrate varying degrees of social impairments, deficits in language and communication and stereotypic and repetitive behaviors [1]. There are no clear biological markers for ASD, and current diagnosis relies entirely on behavioral criteria [2,3]. Little is known about the pathology and etiology of the disorders, though genetic, neurologic, environmental and/or immune factors are likely involved [4]. Recent epidemiologic data suggest that approximately 1 in 100 children is diagnosed with an ASD [5,6], highlighting the urgent need for better underst
%U http://www.molecularautism.com/content/2/1/13