Autism and Developmental Disorders Colloquium Series

Paul Ashwood, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, M.I.N.D. Institute

Dept. of Medical Microbiology and Immunology

University of California , Davis

“Autism and the immune response: Is there evidence of an immune phenotype?”

April 10, 2007

6-8 P.M.

Simches Building , Room 3110,

185 Cambridge St. , Boston ( Charles River Plaza)

Refreshments will be served.

Hosted by Partners Center for the Study of Autism and Related Disorders

Supported by The Simons Foundation, The Anne and Paul Marcus Family Foundation, and The Autism Treatment Network

Colloquia sponsored by The Autism Consortium

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are part of a broad spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders known as pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) that occur in childhood. They are characterized by impairments in social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication and the presence of restricted and repetitive stereotyped behaviors. At the present time, the etiology of ASD are largely unknown but genetic, environmental, immunological and neurological factors are all thought to play a role in the development of ASD. Recently, increasing research has focused on the connections between the immune system and the nervous system including its possible role in the development of ASD. These neuro-immune interactions begin early during embryogenesis and persist throughout an individual’s lifetime, with successful neurodevelopment contingent upon a normal balanced immune response. Immune aberrations consistent with a dysregulated immune response that so far have been reported in autistic children include: abnormal or skewed T H1 / T H2 cytokine profiles, decreased lymphocyte numbers, decreased T cell mitogen response and the imbalance of serum immunoglobulin (Ig) levels. In addition, autism has been linked with autoimmunity and an association with immune based genes including HLA-DRB1 and complement C4 alleles described. There is potential that aberrant immune activity during vulnerable and critical periods of neurodevelopment could participate in the generation of neurological dysfunction characteristic of ASD. This talk will examine the current status of our research linking the immune response with ASD.

***Please reply via e-mail to Dave Plancon (dplancon@partners.org) if you plan to attend. If you are not an MGH employee, you will need a temporary ID badge to be admitted to Simches 3. Simply request this in your e-mail response; you may pick up your temporary badge from security personnel in the Simches lobby before the lecture. Parking is available at MGH's Fruit St. and Parkman St. garages; see Dave Plancon at the event if you need a sticker to cover your parking fee for the evening. You may also park in the lot in front of Simches; cost is $15 for two hours, $20 for three hours ***