Compromised Immunity
How might issues of compromised immunity affect my child?
Associated Signs & Symptoms* often reported by Parents & Carers:
* This list is not exhaustive, one or more signs may indicate a potential immune problem.
The Issues Identified
Science, Studies, Papers & Presentations
Recurrent Infections
Abnormal Indices
Skewed Viral Titres (Video)
Autistic Entercolitis (Video)
A Collection of Papers from
Teresa Binstock
Researcher in Developmental & Behavioral Neuroanatomy
1: Jyonouchi H, Sun S, Itokazu N.
Innate Immunity Associated with Inflammatory Responses and Cytokine Production against Common Dietary Proteins in Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Neuropsychobiology. 2002;46(2):76-84.PMID: 12378124
2: Krause I, He XS, Gershwin ME, Shoenfeld Y. Brief report: immune factors in autism: a critical review.J Autism Dev Disord. 2002 Aug;32(4):337-45.
PMID: 12199139 [PubMed - in process]
3: Kidd PM. Autism, an extreme challenge to integrative medicine. Part: 1: The knowledgebase.Altern Med Rev. 2002 Aug;7(4):292-316. Review.
PMID: 12197782 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
4: Vojdani A, Campbell AW, Anyanwu E, Kashanian A, Bock K, Vojdani E.
Antibodies to neuron-specific antigens in children with autism: possible
cross-reaction with encephalitogenic proteins from milk, Chlamydia pneumoniae and Streptococcus group A.
J Neuroimmunol. 2002 Aug;129(1-2):168-77.
PMID: 12161033 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
5: Singh VK, Lin SX, Newell E, Nelson C.
Abnormal measles-mumps-rubella antibodies and CNS autoimmunity in children with autism. J Biomed Sci. 2002 Jul-Aug;9(4):359-64.
PMID: 12145534 [PubMed - in process]
6: Wakefield AJ, Puleston JM, Montgomery SM, Anthony A, O'Leary JJ, Murch SH. Review article: the concept of entero-colonic encephalopathy, autism and opioid receptor ligands. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2002 Apr;16(4):663-74. Review.PMID: 11929383 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
7: Korvatska E, Van de Water J, Anders TF, Gershwin ME. Genetic and immunologic considerations in autism. Neurobiol Dis. 2002 Mar;9(2):107-25. Review. PMID: 11895365 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
8: Jyonouchi H, Sun S, Le H. Proinflammatory and regulatory cytokine production associated with innate and adaptive immune responses in children with autism spectrum disorders and developmental regression. Neuroimmunol. 2001 Nov 1;120(1-2):170-9.PMID: 11694332 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
9: Hornig M, Lipkin WI.
Infectious and immune factors in the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental
disorders: epidemiology, hypotheses, and animal models. Ment Retard Dev Disabil Res Rev. 2001;7(3):200-10. Review.PMID: 11553936 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
10: Torres AR, Maciulis A, Odell D. The association of MHC genes with autism. Front Biosci. 2001 Aug 1;6:D936-43. Review. PMID: 11487481 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
11: Malek-Ahmadi P. Cytokines and etiopathogenesis of pervasive developmental disorders. Med Hypotheses. 2001 Mar;56(3):321-4. PMID: 11359354 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
12: Binstock T. Intra-monocyte pathogens delineate autism subgroups.
Med Hypotheses. 2001 Apr;56(4):523-31. PMID: 11339860 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
13: Gupta S. Immunological treatments for autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 2000 Oct;30(5):475-9. PMID: 11098887 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
14: Fiumara A, Sciotto A, Barone R, D'Asero G, Munda S, Parano E, Pavone L.
Peripheral lymphocyte subsets and other immune aspects in Rett syndrome. Pediatr Neurol. 1999 Sep;21(3):619-21. PMID: 10513687 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
15: Comi AM, Zimmerman AW, Frye VH, Law PA, Peeden JN.
Familial clustering of autoimmune disorders and evaluation of medical risk
factors in autism. J Child Neurol. 1999 Jun;14(6):388-94. PMID: 10385847 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
16: Connolly AM, Chez MG, Pestronk A, Arnold ST, Mehta S, Deuel RK.
Serum autoantibodies to brain in Landau-Kleffner variant, autism, and other neurologic disorders. J Pediatr. 1999 May;134(5):607-13. PMID: 10228297 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
17: Gupta S.Treatment of children with autism with intravenous immunoglobulin. J Child Neurol. 1999 Mar;14(3):203-5. No abstract available.
PMID: 10190273 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
18: Singh VK, Lin SX, Yang VC.
Serological association of measles virus and human herpesvirus-6 with brain autoantibodies in autism.Clin Immunol Immunopathol. 1998 Oct;89(1):105-8. PMID: 9756729 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
19: Gupta S, Aggarwal S, Rashanravan B, Lee T.Th1- and Th2-like cytokines in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in autism. J Neuroimmunol. 1998 May 1;85(1):106-9.PMID: 9627004 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
20: Plioplys AV. Intravenous immunoglobulin treatment of children with autism. J Child Neurol. 1998 Feb;13(2):79-82. PMID: 9512308 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
21: Messahel S, Pheasant AE, Pall H, Ahmed-Choudhury J, Sungum-Paliwal RS,
Vostanis P. Urinary levels of neopterin and biopterin in autism. Neurosci Lett. 1998 Jan 23;241(1):17-20. PMID: 9502205 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
22: Singh VK, Warren R, Averett R, Ghaziuddin M. Circulating autoantibodies to neuronal and glial filament proteins in autism. Pediatr Neurol. 1997 Jul;17(1):88-90. PMID: 9308986 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
23: Warren RP, Odell JD, Warren WL, Burger RA, Maciulis A, Daniels WW, Torres AR. Brief report: immunoglobulin A deficiency in a subset of autistic subjects. J Autism Dev Disord. 1997 Apr;27(2):187-92. No abstract available.
PMID: 9105969 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
24: Singh VK, Singh EA, Warren RP.
Hyperserotoninemia and serotonin receptor antibodies in children with autism but not mental retardation. Biol Psychiatry. 1997 Mar 15;41(6):753-5. No abstract available. PMID: 9067002 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
25: van Gent T, Heijnen CJ, Treffers PD. Autism and the immune system.
J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1997 Mar;38(3):337-49. Review. PMID: 9232480 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
26: Gupta S, Aggarwal S, Heads C. Dysregulated immune system in children with autism: beneficial effects of intravenous immune globulin on autistic characteristics. J Autism Dev Disord. 1996 Aug;26(4):439-52. No abstract available. PMID: 8863094 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
27: Warren RP, Odell JD, Warren WL, Burger RA, Maciulis A, Daniels WW, Torres AR. Strong association of the third hypervariable region of HLA-DR beta 1 with autism. J Neuroimmunol. 1996 Jul;67(2):97-102. MID: 8765331 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
28: Singh VK. Plasma increase of interleukin-12 and interferon-gamma. Pathological significance in autism. J Neuroimmunol. 1996 May;66(1-2):143-5.PMID: 8964908 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
29: Warren RP, Singh VK, Averett RE, Odell JD, Maciulis A, Burger RA, Daniels
WW, Warren WL. Immunogenetic studies in autism and related disorders.
Mol Chem Neuropathol. 1996 May-Aug;28(1-3):77-81. Review. PMID: 8871944 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
30: Daniels WW, Warren RP, Odell JD, Maciulis A, Burger RA, Warren WL, Torres AR. Increased frequency of the extended or ancestral haplotype B44-SC30-DR4 in autism. Neuropsychobiology. 1995;32(3):120-3. PMID: 8544967 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
31: Warren RP, Yonk J, Burger RW, Odell D, Warren WL. DR-positive T cells in autism: association with decreased plasma levels of the complement C4B protein. Neuropsychobiology. 1995;31(2):53-7. PMID: 7760985 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
32: Warren RP, Burger RA, Odell D, Torres AR, Warren WL. Decreased plasma concentrations of the C4B complement protein in autism. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1994 Feb;148(2):180-3. PMID: 8118537 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
33: Plioplys AV, Greaves A, Kazemi K, Silverman E. Lymphocyte function in autism and Rett syndrome. Neuropsychobiology. 1994;29(1):12-6. PMID: 8127418 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
34: Warren RP, Singh VK, Cole P, Odell JD, Pingree CB, Warren WL, DeWitt CW,
McCullough M. Possible association of the extended MHC haplotype B44-SC30-DR4 with autism. Immunogenetics. 1992;36(4):203-7. PMID: 1639438 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
35: Warren RP, Singh VK, Cole P, Odell JD, Pingree CB, Warren WL, White E.
Increased frequency of the null allele at the complement C4b locus in autism. Clin Exp Immunol. 1991 Mar;83(3):438-40. PMID: 2004485 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
36: Yonk LJ, Warren RP, Burger RA, Cole P, Odell JD, Warren WL, White E, Singh VK. CD4+ helper T cell depression in autism. Immunol Lett. 1990 Sep;25(4):341-5. PMID: 1979061 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
37: Warren RP, Yonk LJ, Burger RA, Cole P, Odell JD, Warren WL, White E, Singh VK. Deficiency of suppressor-inducer (CD4+CD45RA+) T cells in autism. Immunol Invest. 1990 Jun;19(3):245-51. PMID: 2142123 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
38: Warren RP, Foster A, Margaretten NC. Reduced natural killer cell activity in autism. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1987 May;26(3):333-5. No abstract available. PMID: 3597287 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
39: Warren RP, Margaretten NC, Pace NC, Foster A. Immune abnormalities in patients with autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 1986 Jun;16(2):189-97.
PMID: 2941410 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
40: Weizman A, Weizman R, Szekely GA, Wijsenbeek H, Livni E.
Abnormal immune response to brain tissue antigen in the syndrome of autism. Am J Psychiatry. 1982 Nov;139(11):1462-5. PMID: 6182806 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
41: Stubbs EG, Crawford ML. Depressed lymphocyte responsiveness in autistic children. J Autism Child Schizophr. 1977 Mar;7(1):49-55. PMID: 139400 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
42: Stubbs EG. Autistic children exhibit undetectable hemagglutination-inhibition antibody titers despite previous rubella vaccination.
J Autism Child Schizophr. 1976 Sep;6(3):269-74. PMID: 1036494 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Singh VK, Jensen RL. Elevated levels of measles antibodies in children with autism. Pediatr Neurol. 2003 Apr;28(4):292-4. PMID: 12849883
?Virus-induced autoimmunity may play a causal role in autism. To examine the etiologic link of viruses in this brain disorder, we conducted a serologic study of measles virus, mumps virus, and rubella virus. Viral antibodies were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the serum of autistic children, normal children, and siblings of autistic children. The level of measles antibody, but not mumps or rubella antibodies, was significantly higher in autistic children as compared with normal children (P = 0.003) or siblings of autistic children (P <or= 0.0001). Furthermore, immunoblotting of measles vaccine virus revealed that the antibody was directed against a protein of approximately 74 kd molecular weight. The antibody to this antigen was found in 83% of autistic children but not in normal children or siblings of autistic children. Thus autistic children have a hyperimmune response to measles virus, which in the absence of a wild type of measles infection might be a sign of an abnormal immune reaction to the vaccine strain or virus reactivation.?
Aristo Vojdani, Ph.D., M.T. and Jon Pangborn, Ph.D. - Binding of Infectious Agents, Toxic Chemicals, and Dietary Peptides to Tissue Enzymes and Lymphocyte Receptors and Consequent Immune Response in Autism
Singh VK et al. Serological association of measles virus and human herpesvirus-6 with brain autoantibodies in autism. Clin Immunol Immunopathol 1998 89(1):105-8. PMID: 9756729
?Considering an autoimmunity and autism connection, brain autoantibodies to myelin basic protein (anti-MBP) and neuron-axon filament protein (anti-NAFP) have been found in autistic children. In this current study, we examined associations between virus serology and autoantibody by simultaneous analysis of measles virus antibody (measles-IgG), human herpesvirus-6 antibody (HHV-6-IgG), anti-MBP, and anti-NAFP. We found that measles-IgG and HHV-6-IgG titers were moderately higher in autistic children but they did not significantly differ from normal controls. Moreover, we found that a vast majority of virus serology-positive autistic sera was also positive for brain autoantibody: (i) 90% of measles-IgG-positive autistic sera was also positive for anti-MBP; (ii) 73% of measles-IgG-positive autistic sera was also positive for anti-NAFP; (iii) 84% of HHV-6-IgG-positive autistic sera was also positive for anti-MBP; and (iv) 72% of HHV-6-IgG-positive autistic sera was also positive for anti-NAFP. This study is the first to report an association between virus serology and brain autoantibody in autism; it supports the hypothesis that a virus-induced autoimmune response may play a causal role in autism.?
Singh VK et al. Abnormal measles-mumps-rubella antibodies and CNS autoimmunity in children with autism. J Biomed Sci. 2002 Jul-Aug;9(4):359-64. PMID 12145534
?Autoimmunity to the central nervous system (CNS), especially to myelin basic protein (MBP), may play a causal role in autism, a neurodevelopmental disorder. Because many autistic children harbor elevated levels of measles antibodies, we conducted a serological study of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) and MBP autoantibodies. Using serum samples of 125 autistic children and 92 control children, antibodies were assayed by ELISA or immunoblotting methods. ELISA analysis showed a significant increase in the level of MMR antibodies in autistic children. Immunoblotting analysis revealed the presence of an unusual MMR antibody in 75 of 125 (60%) autistic sera but not in control sera. This antibody specifically detected a protein of 73-75 kD of MMR. This protein band, as analyzed with monoclonal antibodies, was immunopositive for measles hemagglutinin (HA) protein but not for measles nucleoprotein and rubella or mumps viral proteins. Thus the MMR antibody in autistic sera detected measles HA protein, which is unique to the measles subunit of the vaccine. Furthermore, over 90% of MMR antibody-positive autistic sera were also positive for MBP autoantibodies, suggesting a strong association between MMR and CNS autoimmunity in autism. Stemming from this evidence, we suggest that an inappropriate antibody response to MMR, specifically the measles component thereof, might be related to pathogenesis of autism.?