OBJECTIVE. Autistic spectrum disorders are childhood neurodevelopmental disorders
characterized by social and communicative impairment and repetitive and stereotypical
behavior. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is an upstream regulator of innate
immunity that promotes monocyte/macrophage-activation responses by increasing the
expression of Toll-like receptors and inhibiting activation-induced apoptosis. On the basis of
results of previous genetic linkage studies and reported altered innate immune response in …