Dario Siniscalco1, Tatjana Mijatovic2, Eugene Bosmans2, Alessandra Cirillo3, Peter Kruzliak4, Vincent C Lombardi5, Kenny De Meirleir6, Nicola Antonucci3. 1. Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy Centre for Autism - La Forza del Silenzio, Caserta, Italy Cancellautismo - Non-profit Association for Autism Care, Florence, Italy dariosin@uab.edu. 2. R.E.D. Laboratories, Zellik, Belgium. 3. Biomedical Centre for Autism Research and Treatment, Bari, Italy. 4. 2 Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic Laboratory of Structural Biology and Proteomics, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic. 5. Nevada Center for Biomedical Research, Reno, NV, U.S.A. 6. Himmunitas vzw, Brussels, Belgium.
Abstract
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.
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.
Authors: Kenny L De Meirleir; Tatjana Mijatovic; Krishnamurthy Subramanian; Karen A Schlauch; Vincent C Lombardi Journal: J Transl Med Date: 2018-11-21 Impact factor: 5.531
Authors: Nicola Alessio; Anna Lisa Brigida; Gianfranco Peluso; Nicola Antonucci; Umberto Galderisi; Dario Siniscalco Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-02-04 Impact factor: 3.390