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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Tag: immune system

January 2019

Invisible man? Move over for invisible mouse

by  /  11 January 2019

A combination of chemical cocktails has created mice that are — yes — virtually invisible. And new imaging technology reveals the mice’s underlying nerves and lymphatic system in unprecedented detail.

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December 2018

Massive analysis refines map of autism’s genetic roots

by  /  19 December 2018

The largest genetic analysis of postmortem brain tissue to date has yielded maps of when and where genes related to autism are turned on and off throughout life.

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Siblings, a baby and a toddler, play together at home.

How pregnancy may shape a child’s autism

by  /  5 December 2018

Autism is predominantly genetic in origin, but a growing list of prenatal exposures for mother and baby may sway the odds.

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November 2018

Neuron tag may shield synapses from brain’s pruning shears

by  /  12 November 2018

A protective molecular tag on neurons can prevent microglia, the brain’s immune cells, from trimming away their connections with other neurons.

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Two white mice, one on a wheel, sniff noses.

Infection during childhood may aggravate autism risk from mutation

by  /  7 November 2018

Triggering an immune defense in newborn male mice missing a copy of TSC2, a gene linked to autism, impairs the mice’s social memory.

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Inflammation in womb may spawn autism-like traits in males

by  /  6 November 2018

Chronic exposure to inflammation in the womb alters autism gene expression and disrupts social behavior in male mice, but not females.

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Illustration shows a maze of elements: human brain, medicine, chromosome, factory, clouds and lightning bolts

Environmental risk for autism, explained

by  /  5 November 2018

Autism results from an interplay between genetics and the environment, but it has been tough to nail down the environmental factors involved.

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A white lab rat on a grey background.

Brain scans of rats reveal molecular clues to autism’s link

by  /  4 November 2018

Rats exposed prenatally to a cocktail of ‘autoimmune’ molecules have altered levels of two types of compounds needed for brain development.

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Brain’s immune cells may underlie autism risk from maternal infection

by  /  4 November 2018

A pregnant mouse’s response to infection alters the immune cells in her pups’ brains, and this may contribute to their autism-like behaviors.

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Outlines of mice neurons have long branches.

Rodent models of autism miss milestone in brain signaling

by  /  4 November 2018

In mice exposed to maternal inflammation in the womb, a key chemical messenger never makes the switch from exciting brain signals to inhibiting them.

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