Antibody Mediating Autoimmune Reaction in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of severe pervasive neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by a highly variable impairment in social interaction and verbal and nonverbal communication, a stereotyped repetitive behavior, learning problems, and aloofness. ASD is frequently accompanied by a core neurobehavioral symptoms and immunological derangements, including aberrant sensitivity to sensory stimulation, anxiety and cellular immune deregulation. Currently, the involvement of the neuroimmune pathology in autism remains unclear and we consider that a better understanding would be useful for earlier clinical and therapeutic intervention. The main aim of this chapter is to review the most current aspects regarding the antibody response in autism occurring either in the periphery or into the brain and how they can influence the abnormal development of the offspring and modulate the nontypical behaviors frequently observed in autism.