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Translational Approaches to Autism Spectrum Disorder pp 155–180Cite as

Understanding on Neuroimmunology in Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Abstract

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of severe pervasive neurodevelopmental disorders (PDD) affecting between 1 and 3 % of pediatric populations. It is characterized by a highly variable impairment in social interaction and verbal and nonverbal communication, as well as by a stereotyped repetitive behavior, learning problems, and aloofness. ASD behavioral symptoms are frequently accompanied by immunological derangements, including cellular immune dysregulation, chronic inflammatory states, and neuroimmune alterations. Currently, the involvement of the immune pathology in autism remains unclear, and we consider that a better understanding would be useful for earlier clinical and therapeutic interventions. The main aim of this chapter is to review the most current aspects regarding the etiology of autism, with particular reference to the contribution of inflammatory events occurring in the periphery and into the brain, and how they can influence the abnormal development of the offspring and modulate the typical behaviors frequently observed in autism.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Autism Biomarkers Project of CIREN (M.A.R-A.), Havana University (M.C.I.J.), a CONICET Grant PIP 2012, a University of Buenos Aires Grant UBACyT GEF2013-2015, and an ANPCyT Grant PICT2010 (A.M.D.). A.M.D. is a member of the Research Career at the National Council of Scientific and Technological Research (CONICET).

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  1. Institute of Physiology, Molecular Biology and Neuroscience, CONICET—Department of Physiology, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, University of Buenos Aires, Int Guiraldes 2160, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Amaicha Mara Depino

  2. Neuroimmunology Department, International Center for Neurological Restoration, Havana, Cuba

    Maria de los Angeles Robinson-Agramonte

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  1. Amaicha Mara Depino
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Correspondence to Maria de los Angeles Robinson-Agramonte .

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  1. Neuroimmunology Department, International Center for Neurological Restoration, Havana, Cuba

    Maria de los Angeles Robinson-Agramonte

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© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Depino, A., Robinson-Agramonte, M. (2015). Understanding on Neuroimmunology in Autism Spectrum Disorder. In: Robinson-Agramonte, M. (eds) Translational Approaches to Autism Spectrum Disorder. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16321-5_9

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