Brain IL-6 elevation causes neuronal circuitry imbalances and mediates autism-like behaviors

Abnormal immune responses have been reported to be associated with autism. A number of studies showed that cytokines were increased in the blood, brain, and cerebrospinal fluid of autistic subjects. The findings suggest that IL-6 elevation in the brain could mediate autistic-like behaviors, possibly through the imbalances of neural circuitry and impairments of synaptic plasticity.

Abstract. Biochimica et biophysica acta 2012; 1822(6):831-42