Decreased cellular IL-23 but not IL-17 production in children with autism spectrum disorders

A potential role for TH17 cells has been suggested in a number of conditions including neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In the current study, we investigated cellular release of IL-17 and IL-23 following an in-vitro immunological challenge of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from children with ASD compared to age-matched typically developing controls. Following stimulation, the concentration of IL-23, but not IL-17, was significantly reduced (p = 0.021) in ASD compared to controls. Decreased cellular IL-23 production in ASD warrants further research to determine its role on the generation and survival of TH17 cells, a cell subset important in neuroinflammatory conditions that may include ASD.