Why study neuroglial and immune reactions in autism?
Current evidence suggests that neurobiological abnormalities in autism are associated with changes in cytoarchitectural and neuronal organization that may be determined by genetic, environmental, immunological and toxic factors. Since neuroglia have central roles during brain development, cortical organization, neuronal function and immune responses, we hypothesize that neuroglia may contribute to the pathogenesis of autism in several ways: • Neuroglia may be dysfunctional during the process of neuronal organization and plasticity of cortical and subcortical structures, a change that may contribute to the neuropathological abnormalities observed in autism. • Neuroglia may react to extrinsic factors, such as systemic immune responses, toxins or infections, and produce disturbances in the CNS microenvironment that facilitate the development of immune mediated reactions. • Abnormal neuroglial activation may be present in autistic patients due to genetic susceptibility to inflammation, a c
