The Role of the Immune System in Autism Spectrum Disorder.

ABSTRACT: Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in communication and social skills as well as repetitive and stereotypical behaviors. While much effort has focused on the identification of genes associated with autism, research emerging within the past two decades suggests that immune dysfunction is a viable risk factor contributing to the neurodevelopmental deficits observed in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Further, it is the heterogeneity within this disorder that has brought to light much of the current thinking regarding the subphenotypes within ASD and how the immune system is associated with these distinctions. This review will focus on the two main axes of immune involvement in ASD, namely dysfunction in the prenatal and postnatal periods. During gestation, pren

SUBMITTER: Meltzer A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5143489 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature