Cell-El Ltd is studying ASD biomarkers in the blood, urine and stool related to immune dysfunction that may be very helpful for diagnosis and treatment. There is a great deal of interest and work being done related to immune dysfunction in individuals with ASD.
Research shows that many individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have signs of immune dysfunction – meaning their immune system is either overactive or not properly regulated. This can include high levels of inflammatory messengers called cytokines (such as IL-6 or TNF-α), abnormal levels of immune cells (like T cells and B cells, which help fight infection), and even the presence of autoantibodies – immune proteins that mistakenly target the body’s own tissues. In the brain, some people with ASD show signs of neuroinflammation, where support cells in the brain (called microglia and astrocytes) are overly active. These immune problems may be linked to symptoms such as developmental regression, seizures, digestive issues, and behavior changes, and some individuals improve with immune-based treatments like IVIG or steroids. Studies also show that autoimmune conditions – such as thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and type 1 diabetes – are more common in families of children with ASD, suggesting a heritable immune vulnerability.
Please see Cell-El’s published research on this topic:
- Immunological and autoimmune considerations of Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) – Searching for the Biological Basis for Behavioral Symptoms and New Therapeutic Targets
As well as other researchers’ insights:
One possible cause of immune problems in autism is maternal immune activation (MIA). This happens when the mother’s immune system is activated during pregnancy by an infection, inflammation, or autoimmune disease. The immune response can affect the baby’s developing brain, possibly leading to changes in how brain cells grow and connect. Studies show that MIA during pregnancy, especially in the middle months, may increase the risk of autism in the child (see The Role of the Immune System in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Autism-Specific Maternal Autoantibodies Produce Behavioral Abnormalities in an Endogenous Antigen-Driven Mouse Model of Autism for example).
There are many existing theories regarding immune dysfunction in ASD. Our current thinking at Cell-El Ltd is that by helping the immune system to modulate, we may also improve behavior and overall development of individuals with ASD. By testing children with ASD before and after treatment we will examine behavioral changes as well as changes in their biomarkers – and improve our understanding of how changes in the two may be related.
Help Us Help You
Better diagnostics for ASD based on laboratory-measured objective biomarkers can possibly enable researchers and clinicians to provide more precise and personalized treatment. You too can make a difference in the lives of children with ASD and their families by joining the Cell-El study. Cell-El is recruiting mothers and their infants aged 10-18 months who have not been diagnosed with ASD but who have a sibling diagnosed with ASD.
Please contact Leah at [email protected] or fill out the form to find out about eligibility to participate in our diagnostic study and please help spread the word about the Cell-El study. Sharing our study will enable our important biomarker diagnostic tool to be integrated into autism treatment as quickly as possible.