[go: up one dir, main page]
Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Lymphocyte subsets and interleukin-2 receptors in autistic children

  • Published:
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Blood samples were obtained from 10 male autistic children ages 7–15 years and 10 age-matched, male, healthy controls. Lymphocyte subsets (helper-inducer, suppressor-cytotoxic, total T, and total B cells) were enumerated using monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry. Bound and soluble interleukin-2 receptors were assayed in unstimulated blood samples and in cell cultures following 72-hour stimulation with phytohemagglutinin. The children with autism had a lower percentage of helper-inducer cells and a lower helpersuppressor ratio, with both measures inversely related to the severity of autistic symptoms (r=−.56 and −.68, respectively). A lower percentage of lymphocytes expressing bound interleukin-2 receptors following mitogenic stimulation was also noted, and this too was inversely related to the seventy of autistic symptoms.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ganguli, R., & Rabin, B. S. (1989). Increased serum interleukin 2 receptor concentrations in schizophrenic and brain-damaged subjects.Archives of General Psychiatry, 46, 292.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Krug, D. A., Arick, J., & Almond, P. (1980). Behavior checklist for identifying severely handicapped individuals with high levels of autistic behaviors.Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 21, 221–229.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maes, M., Bosmans, E., Suy, E., Vandervorst, C., Dejonckheere, C., & Raus, J. (1991). Antiphospholipid, antinuclear, Epstein-Barr and cytomegalovirus antibodies and soluble interleukin-2 receptors in depressive patients.Journal of Affective Disorders, 21, 133–140.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rapaport, M. H., McAllister, C. G., Pickar, D., Nelson, D. L., & Paul, S. M. (1989). Elevated levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptors in schizophrenia.Archives of General Psychiatry, 46, 291–292.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ritvo, E. R., Yuwiler, A., Geller, E., Ornitz, E. M., Saeger, K., & Plotkin, S. (1970). Increased blood serotonin and platelets in early infantile autism.Archives of General Psychiatry, 23, 566–572.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, V. K., Warren, R. P., Odell, J. D., & Cole, P. (1991). Changes of soluble interleukin-2, interleukin-2 receptor, T8 antigen, and interleukin-1 in the serum of autistic children.Clinical Immunology and Immunopathology, 61, 448–455.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Slauson, D. O., Walker, C., Kristensen, F., Wang, Y., & DeWeck, A. L. (1984). Mechanisms of serotonin-induced lymphocyte proliferation inhibition.Cellular Immunology, 84, 240–252.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, K. A. (1988). Interleukin-2: Inception, impact, and implications.Science, 240, 1126–1146.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stubbs, E. G., Crawford, M. L., Burger, D. R., & Vandenbark, A. A. (1977). Depressed lymphocyte responsiveness in autistic children.Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 7, 49–55.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wadden, N. P., Bryson, S. E., & Rodger, R. S. (1991). A closer look at the Autism Behavior Checklist: discriminant validity and factor structure.Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 21, 529–541.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Warren, R. P., Foster, A., & Margaretten, N. C. (1987). Reduced natural killer cell activity in autism.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 26, 333–335.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Warren, R. P., Foster, A., Margaretten, N. V., & Pace, N. C. (1986). Immune abnormalities in patients with autism.Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 16, 189–197.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Warren, R. P., Yonk, L. J., Burger, R. A., Cole, P., Odell, J. D., Warren, W. L., White, R., & Singh, V. K. (1990). Deficiency of suppressor-inducer (CD4+D45RA+) T cells in autism.Immunological Investigations, 19, 245–251.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wright, H. H., Abramson, R. K., Self, S., Genco, P., & Cuccaro, M. L. (1990).Serotonin may affect lymphocyte cell surface markers in autistic probands. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, San Francisco, CA. (NR abstract 12).

  • Zimmerman, A. W., Frye, V. H., & Potter, N. T. (1993). Immunological aspects of autism.International Pediatrics, 8, 199–204.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Iowa College of Medicine, USA

    Gary R. Gaffney

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Kansas, 66045, Lawrence, Kansas

    Douglas R. Denney & Brenda Wood Frei

Authors
  1. Douglas R. Denney
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Brenda Wood Frei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gary R. Gaffney
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This work was supported in part by a Kansas University General Research Award and by the Department of Psychiatry Foundation.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Denney, D.R., Frei, B.W. & Gaffney, G.R. Lymphocyte subsets and interleukin-2 receptors in autistic children. J Autism Dev Disord 26, 87–97 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02276236

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02276236

Keywords

Search

Navigation