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. 2008 Nov 15;204(1-2):149-53.
doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2008.07.006.

Decreased transforming growth factor beta1 in autism: a potential link between immune dysregulation and impairment in clinical behavioral outcomes

Paul Ashwood  1 , Amanda Enstrom, Paula Krakowiak, Irva Hertz-Picciotto, Robin L Hansen, Lisa A Croen, Sally Ozonoff, Isaac N Pessah, Judy Van de Water
Affiliations

Decreased transforming growth factor beta1 in autism: a potential link between immune dysregulation and impairment in clinical behavioral outcomes

Paul Ashwood et al. J Neuroimmunol. .

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by impairment in social interactions, communication deficits, and restricted repetitive interests and behaviors. There is evidence of both immune dysregulation and autoimmune phenomena in autism. We examined the regulatory cytokine transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF beta 1) because of its role in controlling immune responses. Plasma levels of active TGF beta 1 were evaluated in 75 children with ASD compared with 68 controls. Children with ASD had significantly lower plasma TGF beta 1 levels compared with typically developing controls (p=0.0017) and compared with children with developmental disabilities other than ASD (p=0.0037), after adjusting for age and gender. In addition, there were significant correlations between psychological measures and TGF beta 1 levels, such that lower TGF beta 1 levels were associated with lower adaptive behaviors and worse behavioral symptoms. The data suggest that immune responses in autism may be inappropriately regulated due to reductions in TGF beta 1. Such immune dysregulation may predispose to the development of possible autoimmune responses and/or adverse neuroimmune interactions during critical windows in development.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Circulating TGFβ1 levels (ng/ml) in autism. TGFβ1 levels were significantly decreased in children with autism compared with typically developing general population controls (p=0.0017) and children with other developmental disabilities (p=0.0037. The bar represents the median TGFβ1 levels in each group.
Figure 2
Figure 2
TGFβ1 levels (ng/ml) in children with distinct autism phenotypes. There were no significant differences in the plasma TGFβ1 levels noted between the subjects with early onset autism compared with those with regressive autism (p>0.5). Plasma TGFβ1 levels were significantly reduced in children with regressive autism when compared with the typically developing general population controls (p<0.0089). Similarly, Plasma TGFβ1 levels were significantly reduced in children with early onset autism when compared with the typically developing general population controls (p<0.0208).
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