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Misguided antibodies change the course of brain development

Molecular Psychiatry (2023)Cite this article

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Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an increasingly diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorder with hypothesized causes including a range of genetic and environmental risk factors [1, 2]. Symptoms of ASD include altered communication, reduced interest in social interaction, and repetitive/stereotyped behaviors [2]. Numerous studies have identified maternal immune responses during pregnancy to be a risk factor for a child’s ASD diagnosis [3]. Among this body of literature is the finding that about 20% of mothers whose children are subsequently diagnosed with ASD have circulating autoantibodies (aAbs) against proteins critical for early development [4]. While there is growing interest in the role of maternal aAbs in ASD pathogenesis, the mechanistic link between maternal aAb exposure and altered offspring neurodevelopment remains unclear. A study from Bruce et al. in this issue sought to better characterize the long-term neurological impact of maternal aAb exposure on offspring brain maturation, neurometabolism, and behavior [5].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Brain Immunology and Glia (BIG), Department of Neuroscience, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Kristine E. Zengeler & John R. Lukens

  2. Neuroscience Graduate Program, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Kristine E. Zengeler & John R. Lukens

  3. Cell and Molecular Biology Training Program, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Kristine E. Zengeler & John R. Lukens

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  1. Kristine E. Zengeler
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  2. John R. Lukens
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KEZ and JRL designed the paper, participated in writing and proofreading, and oversaw the entire process of paper preparation.

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Correspondence to Kristine E. Zengeler or John R. Lukens.

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Zengeler, K.E., Lukens, J.R. Misguided antibodies change the course of brain development. Mol Psychiatry (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-023-02042-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-023-02042-x

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