Autism likelihood in infants born to mothers with asthma is associated with blood inflammatory gene biomarkers in pregnancy

Mothers with asthma or atopy have a higher likelihood of having autistic children, with maternal immune activation in pregnancy implicated as a mechanism. This study aimed to determine, in a prospective cohort of mothers with asthma and their infants, whether inflammatory gene expression in pregnancy is associated with likelihood of future autism.

Citation:
Murphy VE, Whalen OM, Williams EJ, ……. Woolard A, Robijn AL, et al. Autism likelihood in infants born to mothers with asthma is associated with blood inflammatory gene biomarkers in pregnancy. Brain, Behav, Immun - Health. 2024;40.

Keywords:
Biomarkers; Gene expression; Inflammation; Offspring; Sensory regulation; Social communication

Abstract:
Mothers with asthma or atopy have a higher likelihood of having autistic children, with maternal immune activation in pregnancy implicated as a mechanism. This study aimed to determine, in a prospective cohort of mothers with asthma and their infants, whether inflammatory gene expression in pregnancy is associated with likelihood of future autism.