Evidence map›Paper›PMID 22918031›Full record

ReviewNeurotoxicology and teratology

Cytokine dysregulation in autism spectrum disorders (ASD): possible role of the environment.

Paula E Goines, Paul Ashwood

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Neurotoxicology and teratology. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 165 papers, 7 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
165citing papers in PubMed, 7 pooled it
8.7field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

165 citing papers in PubMed, 7 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 309 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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  8. Trial
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  11. Review
  12. Observational
  13. Abscisic Acid Enhances Hippocampal Neuroplasticity and Rescues Learning and Memory Deficits in a Valproate-Induced Rat Model of Autism.International journal of developmental neuroscience : the official journal of the International Society for Developmental Neuroscience · 2026
    Article
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  19. Prenatal Interferon-Alpha Exposure Induces Autism-Like Neurobehavioral and Neurochemical Alterations in Male Offspring.Journal of neuroimmune pharmacology : the official journal of the Society on NeuroImmune Pharmacology · 2026
    Article
  20. Article

105 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Paula E GoinesUniversity of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Molecular Biosciences, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
Paul Ashwood
University of California Davis Medical Center · US

Funding

Gene Expression and Immune Cell Function in Mothers of Children with AutismR21HD065269 · NICHD · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS · PI ASHWOOD, PAUL, SHARP, FRANK R · 2009 to 2010
$536k
Autism Speaks AS7567Autism Speaks ASCN5014NICHD NIH HHS R21 HD065269NICHD NIH HHS R21HD065269
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental diseases that affect an alarming number of individuals. The etiological basis of ASD is unclear, and evidence suggests it involves both genetic and environmental factors. There are many reports of cytokine imbalances in ASD. These imbalances could have a pathogenic role, or they may be markers of underlying genetic and environmental influences. Cytokines act primarily as mediators of immunological activity but they also have significant interactions with the nervous system. They participate in normal neural development and function, and inappropriate activity can have a variety of neurological implications. It is therefore possible that cytokine dysregulation contributes directly to neural dysfunction in ASD. Further, cytokine profiles change dramatically in the face of infection, disease, and toxic exposures. Imbalances in cytokines may represent an immune response to environmental contributors to ASD. The following review is presented in two main parts. First, we discuss select cytokines implicated in ASD, including IL-1Β, IL-6, IL-4, IFN-γ, and TGF-Β, and focus on their role in the nervous system. Second, we explore several neurotoxic environmental factors that may be involved in the disorders, and focus on their immunological impacts. This review represents an emerging model that recognizes the importance of both genetic and environmental factors in ASD etiology. We propose that the immune system provides critical clues regarding the nature of the gene by environment interactions that underlie ASD pathophysiology.

Indexed as

AnimalsBiomarkersCentral Nervous SystemChildChild Development Disorders, PervasiveCytokinesEnvironmentHumansNeuronsBiomarkersCytokines

Identifiers

PMID22918031
PMCPMC3554862
OpenAlexW2035339084

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.