Circulating autoantibodies to neuronal and glial filament proteins in autism

Autoimmunity may be a pathogenic factor in autism, a behavioral disorder of early childhood onset, Circulating autoantibodies are produced in organ-specific autoimmunity; therefore, we investigated them in the plasma of autistic subjects, mentally retarded (MR) subjects, and healthy controls, Autoantibodies (IgG isotype) to neuron-axon filament protein (anti-GFAP) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (anti-GFAP) were analyzed by the Western immunoblotting technique, We found a significant increase in incidence of anti-NAFP (P =.004) and anti-GFAP (P =.002) in autistic subjects, but not in MR subjects, Clinically, these autoantibodies may be related to autoimmune pathology in autism, (C) 1997 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.