Role for antibodies in altering behavior and movement

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Immunology
• Developmental Disorders

Background:

• Autoimmunity involves antibodies contributing to disease pathogenesis.
• The role of autoimmunity in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is not yet established.
• Examples like Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and Sydenham chorea demonstrate antibody-driven neurological damage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize discussions on autoimmunity's role in autism.
• To explore potential parallels between established autoimmune diseases and autism.
• To highlight preliminary findings on maternal antibodies in autism.

Main Methods:

• Review of educational sessions on autoimmunity and autism.
• Comparison of antibody cross-reactivity in known autoimmune diseases (SLE, GAS infection) with potential mechanisms in autism.
• Discussion of studies involving passive transfer of maternal antibodies in animal models.

Main Results:

• Antibodies in SLE and Group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections cross-react with neural targets, driving disease.
• Reports indicate mothers of individuals with autism have antibodies reacting with brain proteins.
• Passive transfer of these antibodies in animal models resulted in offspring with nervous system and behavioral changes.

Conclusions:

• Antibodies play a clear pathogenic role in diseases like SLE and Sydenham chorea.
• The role of maternal antibodies in autism pathogenesis requires further investigation.
• Identifying specific brain targets and their developmental impact is crucial for understanding autism.