Immune Dysfunction in Autism

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Although in this University of California - Davis study, independentresearchers did not specifically look genetic differences and pathologicalchanges in immune and brain dysfunction in vaccinated and unvaccinatedchildren, it is important information for future research into the health ofvaccinated versus unvaccinated individuals. Parents of vaccine injuredchildren have long suspected that there are, in fact, differences in the waysome children respond to the environmental trigger of vaccination and thatgenetic variation places some children at greater risk than others forvaccine injury that can lead to autism and others kinds of disability andchronic illness.http://paktribune.com/news/index.php?id=142921Sunday May 07, 2006 (0136 PST)Immune system, blood altered in autismISLAMABAD: Children with autism show different immune system responses fromchildren without the condition, and these might be measured in the blood fora possible screening test, U.S. researchers reported on Thursday. Two studies presented to a conference on autism help support otherresearchthat suggests subtle differences in the immune function of children withautism. Autism is a brain disorder usually seen as children become toddlers.Affecting an estimated two to five out of every 1,000 children, autism has aspectrum of symptoms that include difficulty with social interaction andrepetitive behaviors. No one knows what causes autism, although experts have largely rejectedpurported links with childhood vaccines. Scientists at the 4th International Meeting for Autism Research in Bostonpresented studies looking at the blood of children with autism.Judy Van de Water of the University of California, Davis, and colleaguesseparated immune cells from 30 children with autism and 26 non-autisticchildren aged 2 to 5. They mixed in toxins and bacteria.In response to bacteria, the researchers saw lower levels of immunesignaling proteins called cytokines in the group with autism. These childrenalso had irregular responses to a plant protein, but not to other toxins orto a measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. "Understanding the biology of autism is crucial to developing better waystodiagnose and treat it," Van de Water said in a statement. A second team at the same center took blood samples from 70 children aged4to 6 with autism and from 35 other children. The children with autism had 20percent more immune system cells called B cells and 40 percent more naturalkiller cells. There also seemed to be differences in other proteins in theblood, although the researchers are still sifting through the data. "From these results we think it is highly likely that there aredifferenceswe can detect in blood samples that will be predictive of the disorder,though we are still some years away from having an actual diagnostic bloodtest for autism," said researcher David Amaral, who led the study. What good would this do, as there is no cure? "There is a growing view among experts that not all children with autismare’doomed to autism’ at birth," Amaral said in a statement. "It may be thatsome children have a vulnerability, such as a genetic abnormality, and thatsomething they encounter after being born, perhaps in their environment,triggers the disorder," he added."Studying the biological signs of autism could lead to new ways to preventthe disorder from ever occurring. And even if it can’t be prevented,intervening early in life -- ideally shortly after birth -- could greatlyimprove the lifetime outlook for children with autism."