Vol. 18, No. 2, 2010
Issue release date: February 2011
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Neurosignals 2010;18:113–128

Maternal Immune Activation and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Interleukin-6 Signaling as a Key Mechanistic Pathway

Parker-Athill E.C.a–c · Tan J.a–c
aRashid Laboratory for Developmental Neurobiology, Silver Child Development Center, bDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, cCollege of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Fla., USA
email Corresponding Author

 goto top of outline Key Words

  • Autism spectrum disorder
  • Fetal immune response syndrome
  • Maternal immune activation
  • Interleukin-6

 goto top of outline Abstract

An emerging area of research in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the role of prenatal exposure to inflammatory mediators during critical developmental periods. Epidemiological data has highlighted this relationship showing significant correlations between prenatal exposure to pathogens, including influenza, and the occurrence of ASD. Although there has not been a definitive molecular mechanism established, researchers have begun to investigate this relationship as animal models of maternal infection have support- ed epidemiological findings. Several groups utilizing these animal models have found that activation of the maternal immune system, termed maternal immune activation (MIA), and more specifically the exposure of the developing fetus to maternal cytokines precipitate the neurological, immunological and behavioral abnormalities observed in the offspring of these animals. These abnormalities have correlated with clinical findings of immune dysregulation, neurological and behavioral abnormalities in some autistic individuals. Additionally, researchers have observed genetic variations in these models in genes which regulate neurological and immunological development, similar to what is observed clinically in ASD. Altogether, the role of MIA and cytokine dysregulation, as a key mediator in the neuropathological, behavioral and possibly genetic irregularities observed clinically in autism are important factors that warrant further investigation.

Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel

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 goto top of outline Author Contacts

Dr. Jun Tan
Department of Psychiatry, Silver Child Development Center
University of South Florida, 3515 E. Fletcher Ave.
Tampa, FL 33613 (USA)
Tel. +1 813 974 9326, Fax +1 813 974 3223, E-Mail jtan@health.usf.edu

 goto top of outline Article Information

Received: May 31, 2010
Accepted after revision: July 30, 2010
Published online: October 2, 2010
Number of Print Pages : 16
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 172

 goto top of outline Publication Details


Vol. 18, No. 2, Year 2010 (Cover Date: February 2011)

Journal Editor: Ip N.Y. (Hong Kong)
ISSN: 1424-862X (Print), eISSN: 1424-8638 (Online)

For additional information: http://www.karger.com/NSG

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