Autism is a complex neurodevelopment disorder characterized by impairment in social skills, verbal communication, behavior and cognitive function. Abnormalities in language development, mental retardation and epilepsy are also found frequently in patients with autism. The role of the immune system in autism is unconfirmed. But studies revealed the immune effect in the nervous system, indicating a novel approach for the study of this disease. In this review, we specifically discuss the neuroimmunologic aspects of the disease at the cellular and molecular levels.

Key words: autism; neuroimmunology