16 Cytokine Polymorphisms in Autism: Their Role in Immune Alterations

16.1 Cytokine Biology: A General Introduction 315 16.2 Cytokine Polymorphisms and Cytokine Expression 317 16.3 Cytokines and the Brain 318 16.4 Cytokines and Autism 319 16.5 Why Study Cytokine Polymorphisms in Autism? The Underlying Genetic Variability Hypothesis 320 16.6 Why Study Maternal Cytokine Polymorphisms? 320 16.7 Discussion 321 16.8 Future Directions 322 References 322