Depressed lymphocyte responsiveness in autistic children

• DOI: 10.1007/bf01531114
• Publication Date: 2005-06-30T15:36:03Z
• Authors: E. Gene Stubbs; Mary Lou Crawford; Denis R. Burger; Arthur A. Vandenbark
• Keywords: Male; 0301 basic medicine; Immunity, Cellular; T-Lymphocytes; In Vitro Techniques; Lymphocyte Activation; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Child, Preschool; Lectins; Humans; Female; Autistic Disorder; Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; Mitogens; Child

Although there are associations linking autism with prenatal rubella, cytomegalovirus, syphilis, and varicella, the etiology of the autistic state remains obscure. Host defense against the etiologic agents postulated to be responsible for the autism-associated syndromes is believed to be primarily of the cell-mediated type. In this preliminary study, cellular immune function was assessed in vitro by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation of lymphocyte cultures. Twelve autistic children and 13 control subjects were compared. The autistic group exhibited a depressed lymphocyte transformation response to PHA when compared to the control subjects (p less than .01).