![[logo] US EPA](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081105231711im_/http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
2005 Progress Report: Environmental Factors in the Etiology of Autism; Cell Activation/Signaling Core
EPA Grant Number: R829388C002Subproject: this is subproject number 002 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R829388
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: CECEHDPR - University of California at Davis Center for the Study of Environmental Factors in the Etiology of Autism
Center Director: Pessah, Isaac N.
Title: Environmental Factors in the Etiology of Autism; Cell Activation/Signaling Core
Investigators: VanDeWater, Judy , Ashwood, Paul
Institution: University of California - Davis
EPA Project Officer: Saint, Chris
Project Period: September 30, 2001 through September 29, 2002
Project Period Covered by this Report: September 30, 2004 through September 29, 2005
RFA: Centers for Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research (2001)
Research Category: Children's Health , Health Effects
Description:
Objective:To determine if children with autism possess abnormal humoral and acquired immunity and abnormal responses to xenobiotic triggers.
Progress Summary:In this funding period, several seminal findings regarding altered immunological markers that distinguish autistic children were documented.
Plasma leptin levels distinguish autism phenotypes. Children with autism have significantly higher plasma leptin levels compared with typically developing controls (Ashwood et al. 2005). When the subjects with autism were further classified into the clinical phenotypes of regression or early onset autism, there were highly significant differences between patients with early onset and all groups including patients with regression (p<0.026), typically developing controls (p<0.0024), and developmentally delayed controls (p<0.007). This finding is significant because leptin represents the first biologic marker that could potentially differentiate between two clinical phenotypes of autism and provides evidence of a biologic distinction between those children with early onset disease and those who develop and then lose language and social skills. Considering the role of leptin in autoimmunity and regulation of the nervous system it may be a relevant biomarker of susceptibility to environmental triggers.
Children with autism have significantly depressed levels of immunoglobulins. Analysis of immunoglobulin levels in autistic children indicates significant depression in plasma concentrations of IgG, IgM and IgA compared to those found in age and gender matched children from the general population (p<0.004).
Children with autism have significantly depressed responses to bacterial vaccine antigens. Recall responses to Diptheria, tetanus toxoid, and Bordetella pertussis antigens were tested by measuring IgG levels subsequent to in vitro challenge. Autistic children displayed significantly depressed responses to all three antigens, with the most depressed response to Bordetella. The response of the siblings to all three antigens was similar to that of their typically developing group. By contrast, recall responses to viral vaccine antigens was not different between patients and controls when time-out from vaccination was taken into account.
Children with autism possess a distinct cytokine profile. Autistic children had significantly increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-12 compared to general population and developmental delay controls.
Mothers of children with autism and autistic children possess serum autoantibodies that recognize brain proteins. Positive staining in several brain regions is more frequently seen with IgG isolated from autistic children compared to their siblings, or the developmentally delayed group. Specifically, antibodies in the plasma from autistic patients show strong cytoplasmic immunostaining of what appear to be Golgi type II cell in the Purkinje layer of Rhesus monkey cerebellum, in comparison with staining using plasma from age-matched controls.
Journal Articles on this Report: 3 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other subproject views: | All 5 publications | 3 publications in selected types | All 3 journal articles |
| Other center views: | All 153 publications | 143 publications in selected types | All 142 journal articles |
| Type | Citation | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Ashwood P, Van de Water J. Is autism an autoimmune disease? Autoimmune Review 2004;3(7-8):557-562. |
R829388 (2006) R829388C002 (2005) |
|
|
|
Lawler CP, Croen LA, Grether JK, Van de Water J. 2004. Identifying environmental contributions to autism: provocative clues and false leads. Mental Retardation & Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews 2004;10:292-302. |
R829388 (2006) R829388C002 (2005) |
|
|
|
Ashwood P and Van de Water J. A review of autism and the immune response. Clinical and Developmental Immunology 11(2):165-174. |
R829388C002 (2005) |
not available |
Autism, immunotoxicity, autoimmunity, mercury, PCBS, PBDEs,
,
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Scientific Discipline, Health, RFA, PHYSICAL ASPECTS, Susceptibility/Sensitive Population/Genetic Susceptibility, Risk Assessment, Biology, Risk Assessments, Disease & Cumulative Effects, genetic susceptability, Health Risk Assessment, Physical Processes, Chemistry, Children's Health, biomarkers, epidemiology, exposure assessment, xenobiotics, neurological development, autism, synergistic interactions, mechanisms, human health risk, susceptibility, halogenated aromatics, etiology, gene-environment interaction, neurotoxic, biological markers, children, neurobehavioral, pesticides, chemical exposure, exposure, biomarker, neurobehavioral effects, human exposure, neurodevelopmental, neurotoxicity
Progress and Final Reports:
2002 Progress Report
2003 Progress Report
2004 Progress Report
Original Abstract
Main Center Abstract and Reports:
R829388 CECEHDPR - University of California at Davis Center for the Study of Environmental Factors in the Etiology of Autism
Subprojects under this Center:
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R829388C001 Environmental Factors in the Etiology of Autism; Analytic Biomakers (xenobiotic) Core
R829388C002 Environmental Factors in the Etiology of Autism; Cell Activation/Signaling Core
R829388C003 Environmental Factors in the Etiology of Autism; Molecular Biomakers Core
R829388C004 Environmental Factors in the Etiology of Autism; Childhood Autism Risks from Genetics and the Environment (The CHARGE Study)
R829388C005 Environmental Factors in the Etiology of Autism; Animal Models of Autism
R829388C006 Environmental Factors in the Etiology of Autism; Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Autism