Researchers used genomic profiling to look at differences in autistic children and found "11 specific genes with expression levels that were significantly higher in the blood of children with autism when compared to the blood of typically developing children."
“Those 11 genes are all known to be expressed by natural-killer cells, which are cells in the immune system necessary for mounting a defense against infected cells. We were surprised by our results because we were not looking for these particular genes. And while a number of studies have shown immune system dysregulation to be an important factor in autism, ours is one of the first to implicate these particular cells.”
“If the natural-killer cells are dysfunctional, this might mean that they cannot rid a pregnant mother, fetus or newborn of an infection, which could contribute to autism.”
http://www.autismvox.com/natural-killer ... or-autism/
I really like this article, "Natural Killer Cells and the Search for Biomarkers for Autism" because I have CFS also and natural killer cells are implicated in that disease also. A recent study in CFS found that those with abnormal natural killer cell activity had "less vigor, more daytime dysfunction, and more cognitive impairment." Another study found the same infections in autism that are found in CFS which may be due to these genes reducing the natural killer cells ability to fight infections. It may explain why some become autistic after the DPT and MMR vaccines. The combination of three viruses in these vaccines may overwhelm a genetically weak immune system. More research is needed, but I think it's likely that a genetic susceptibility leads to the environmental factors that cause autism.
28 Jan 2008, 7:06 pm
