Harumi Jyonouchia, Lee Genga, Deanna L. Streckb and Gokce A. Torunerb
Division of Allergy/Immunology and Infection Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ)-New Jersey Medical School (NJMS), 185 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ, United States
Institute of Genomic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ)-New Jersey Medical School (NJMS), 185 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ, United States
Received 16 February 2011; revised 26 June 2011; accepted 6 July 2011. Available online 30 July 2011.
Abstract
Innate/adaptive immune responses and transcript profiles of peripheral blood monocytes were studied in ASD children who exhibit fluctuating behavioral symptoms following infection and other immune insults (ASD/Inf, N = 30). The ASD/Inf children with persistent gastrointestinal symptoms (ASD/Inf + GI, N = 19), revealed less production of proinflammatory and counter-regulatory cytokines with stimuli of innate immunity and marked changes in transcript profiles of monocytes as compared to ASD/no-Inf (N = 28) and normal (N = 26) controls. This included a 4–5 fold up-regulation of chemokines (CCL2 and CCL7), consistent with the production of more CCL2 by ASD/Inf + GI cells. These results indicate dysregulated innate immune defense in the ASD/Inf + GI children, rendering them more vulnerable to common microbial infection/dysbiosis and possibly subsequent behavioral changes.
