Research Reveals Higher G-CSF and Lower IL-1 Cytokines in Infants Later Diagnosed With ASD, Suggesting a Role in Symptom Severity and Development
A new MIND Institute study has examined cytokine levels in cord blood (CB) to investigate their relationship with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk, using data from the MARBLES study. While the cytokine profile of cord blood has not been extensively evaluated in the ASD population, this study found that infants later diagnosed with ASD had significantly higher levels of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and lower levels of IL-1α, IL-1β, and IL-4, suggesting immune dysregulation. These cytokine changes were linked to symptom severity, language development, and behavioral assessment scores in children with ASD. IL-17A, a cytokine associated with brain development, was connected to worse social scores in children with ASD but better scores in typically developing (TD) children, suggesting a complex role in development. Elevated G-CSF, a growth factor involved in neural differentiation, may act as a compensatory mechanism to protect against earlier immune disturbances during fetal development. These cytokine imbalances may contribute to ASD risk by affecting central nervous system (CNS) development, though further research is needed to confirm these findings and understand their broader applicability.
