Table 2.
Cytokines and associations with severity of autism-related symptoms.
| Cytokine | n (ASD) | Medium | Measures | Finding | Study |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TGF-β1 | 75 | Plasma | ABC, VABS | Reduced levels associated with reduced adaptive behavior and worsened behavioral symptoms including stereotypy, irritability, and hyperactivity | Ashwood et al. [67] |
| Eotaxin | 80 | Plasma | ABC, MSEL, VABS | Increased levels associated with increased severity of lethargy, stereotypy, and hyperactivity (ABC) | Ashwood et al. [69] |
| Increased levels associated with greater impairments in visual reception, fine motor skills, and receptive and expressive language (MSEL) | |||||
| Increased levels associated with greater impairments in communication, daily living skills, socialization, and motor skills (VABS) | |||||
| MCP-1 | 80 | Plasma | ABC, MSEL, VABS | Increased levels associated with greater impairments in visual reception, fine motor skills and expressive language (MSEL) | Ashwood et al. [69] |
| Increased levels associated with greater impairments in daily living skills (VABS) | |||||
| RANTES | 80 | Plasma | ABC, MSEL, VABS | Increased levels associated with increased severity of lethargy, stereotypy, and hyperactivity (ABC) | Ashwood et al. [69] |
| Increased levels associated with greater impairments in visual reception, fine motor skills, and expressive language (MSEL) | |||||
| Increased levels associated with greater impairments in communication and socialization (VABS) | |||||
| IL-1β | 97 | Plasma | ADI-R, ABC, MSEL, VABS | Increased levels associated with increased stereotypy (ABC) | Ashwood et al. [62] |
| IL-4 | 97 | Plasma | ADI-R, ABC, MSEL, VABS | Increased levels associated with greater impairments in non-verbal communication (ADI-R) | Ashwood et al. [62] |
| IL-6 | 97 | Plasma | ADI-R, ABC, MSEL, VABS | Increased levels associated with increased stereotypy (ABC) | Ashwood et al. [62] |
| IL-8 | 97 | Plasma | ADI-R, ABC, MSEL, VABS | Increased levels associated with increased hyperactivity, stereotypy, and lethargy (ABC) | Ashwood et al. [62] |
| Decreased levels associated with improved visual reception, receptive language, and expressive language (MSEL) | |||||
| Decreased levels associated with improved daily living skills (VABS) | |||||
| IL-12p40 | 97 | Plasma | ADI-R, ABC, MSEL, VABS | Increased levels associated with increased stereotypy and lethargy (ABC) | Ashwood et al. [62] |
| TGF-β1 | 30 | Plasma | CARS | Reduced levels associated with increasing severity | El Gohary et al. [68] |
ABC, Aberrant Behavior Checklist; ADI-R, Autism Diagnostic Interview—Revised; IL, interleukin; MCP-1, monocyte chemotactic protein-1; MSEL, Mullen Scales of Early Learning; RANTES, regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted; TGF-β1, transforming growth factor-β1; VABS, Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales; WAIS-R, Wescheler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised.