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. 2011;6(5):e20470.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0020470. Epub 2011 May 27.

Plasma cytokine profiles in subjects with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders

Katsuaki Suzuki  1 , Hideo Matsuzaki, Keiko Iwata, Yosuke Kameno, Chie Shimmura, Satomi Kawai, Yujiro Yoshihara, Tomoyasu Wakuda, Kiyokazu Takebayashi, Shu Takagai, Kaori Matsumoto, Kenji J Tsuchiya, Yasuhide Iwata, Kazuhiko Nakamura, Masatsugu Tsujii, Toshirou Sugiyama, Norio Mori
Affiliations

Plasma cytokine profiles in subjects with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders

Katsuaki Suzuki et al. PLoS One. 2011.

Abstract

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that dysregulation of the immune system is involved in the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The aim of the study was to explore immunological markers in peripheral plasma samples from non-medicated subjects with high-functioning ASD.

Methodology/principal findings: A multiplex assay for cytokines and chemokines was applied to plasma samples from male subjects with high-functioning ASD (n = 28) and matched controls (n = 28). Among a total of 48 analytes examined, the plasma concentrations of IL-1β, IL-1RA, IL-5, IL-8, IL-12(p70), IL-13, IL-17 and GRO-α were significantly higher in subjects with ASD compared with the corresponding values of matched controls after correction for multiple comparisons.

Conclusion/significance: The results suggest that abnormal immune responses as assessed by multiplex analysis of cytokines may serve as one of the biological trait markers for ASD.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Fold changes of analytes measured by multiplex assay kits in subjects with autism spectrum disorder.
The results represent the % concentration relative to the mean concentration of each analyte in the control group (dashed line in red). Data are expressed as the mean plus standard error of the mean.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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