RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Decreased Numbers of CD57+CD3− Cells Identify Potential Innate Immune Differences in Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder
JF In Vivo
JO In Vivo
FD International Institute of Anticancer Research
SP 83
OP 89
VO 30
IS 2
A1 DARIO SINISCALCO
A1 TATJANA MIJATOVIC
A1 EUGENE BOSMANS
A1 ALESSANDRA CIRILLO
A1 PETER KRUZLIAK
A1 VINCENT C. LOMBARDI
A1 KENNY DE MEIRLEIR
A1 NICOLA ANTONUCCI
YR 2016
UL http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/30/2/83.abstract
AB Background/Aim: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are complex, and severe heterogeneous neurodevelopmental pathologies with accepted but complex immune system abnormalities. Additional knowledge regarding potential immune dysfunctions may provide a greater understanding of this malady. The aim of this study was to evaluate the CD57+CD3− mature lymphocyte subpopulation of natural killer cells as a marker of immune dysfunction in ASD. Materials and Methods: Three-color flow cytometry-based analysis of fresh peripheral blood samples from children with autism was utilized to measure CD57+CD3− lymphocytes. Results. A reduction of CD57+CD3− lymphocyte count was recorded in a significant number of patients with autism. Discussion and conclusion: We demonstrated that the number of peripheral CD57+CD3− cells in children with autism often falls below the clinically accepted normal range. This implies that a defect in the counter-regulatory functions necessary for balancing pro-inflammatory cytokines exists, thus opening the way to chronic inflammatory conditions associated with ASD.