Pro-inflammatory cytokines in autistic children in central Saudi Arabia

Objective: Abnormal inflammatory immune responsemight contribute to autism. Pro-inflammatory cytokinescould induce some of the symptoms and signs of autism.Such as, social withdrawal eating and sleep disturbance.The aim of the current study was to examine whetherautism spectrum disorders in Riyadh area areaccompanied by activation of the pro-inflammatory response system.Methods: The study was conducted in the Riyadh area between September 2003 and April 2004. Seventy-sevenautistic child from the Riyadh area participated in thestudy, with confirmed diagnosis according to E-2diagnostic criteria for autistic spectrum disorders. Theparents/guardians filled a simple related questionnaire,then serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-a(TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6)were measured in 65 autistic, 8 attention deficit disorder,2 children with Rett’s syndrome and 2 children with Asperger syndrome. The results were compared to age,and sex matched control children.Results: This study showed a significantly increasedproduction of TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6 from the sera ofautistic, attention deficit disorder, Rett’s syndrome and Asperger syndrome children. There was no correlationbetween TNF-a, IL-1 or IL-6 and the degree of autism orthe age of the affected child. Significant higher incidenceof social withdrawal, sleeping and eating disorders werefound among autism spectrum disorders compared tocontrol.Conclusions: These results suggest that autism may beaccompanied by an activation of the macrophages. It ishypothesized that increased production ofpro-inflammatory cytokines could play a role in thepathophysiology of autism spectrum disorders, such associal withdrawal, eating and sleeping disorders.