Elevated levels of measles antibodies in children with autism

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Elevated levels of measles antibodies in children with autism.

 

Singh VK, Jensen RL.

 

Department of Biology and Biotechnology Center, Utah

State University, Logan, Utah, USA.

 

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.

 

PMID: 12849883 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

 

 

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