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Library Categories > Genetics > Study explores autism link to immune system

 
Library Item Name:

Study explores autism link to immune system 		   
Summary Statement:

In another tantalizing link between the immune system and autism, researchers at the University of California Davis have found 11 genes, all governing “natural killer“ immune cells, that are more active in autistic children than in other youngsters.

While the study is small and very preliminary, it bolsters theories that some sort of infectious agent, early in life or even in the womb, might play a role in autism, said Jeffrey Gregg, director of molecular diagnostics for the UC Davis Medical Center.

Gregg is one of 11 researchers who studied how genes are expressed in the blood of children with and without autism.

Their work, being published in the January edition of Genomics, found similarities in all autistic youngsters, as well as intriguing differences between those whose symptoms show up earlier or later.
Tags:

genes,  natural killer cells,  immune system
Submission Date:

01/27/2008by: shannonj
Current rating:


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