What is the role of other cytokines found in the brain of autistic patients?
Our study found that other cytokines with pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory effect were also increased in the brain of patients with autism. An example of anti-inflammatory cytokines is TGF-1, a key anti-inflammatory cytokine involved in tissue remodeling following injury. It can suppress specific immune responses by inhibiting T-cell proliferation and maturation and downregulates MHC class II expression. In our immunocytochemical studies, TGF- 1 was localized mostly within reactive astrocytes and neurons in the cerebellum. Purkinje cells that exhibited microscopic features of degeneration showed marked reactivity for TGF-1. These findings suggest that the elevation of this cytokine in autism may reflect an attempt to modulate neuroinflammation or remodel and repair injured tissue. • What is the significance of the cerebrospinal fluid findings in autistic patients? Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) studies also confirmed a prominent inflammatory cytokine profile in patients with autism. T
