Introduction: Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impaired social interaction and activities, and abnormal repetitive behavior. As a multifactorial disorder, several environmental, genetic, and immunological factors have been implicated in its pathogenesis.
Aim: To investigate the potential role of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) exposure and its interaction with genetic polymorphisms in the Human Leucocyte Antigen (HLA) region in the development of ASD in children.
Material and Methods: The study involved 400 autistic children recruited from the National Autism Centre at the Child Welfare Teaching Hospital in Medical City. Blood samples were collected, DNA was extracted, and HLA alleles were genotyped. Enzymelinked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) tests were used to detect IgG antibodies for herpes viruses. Statistical analysis included chi-square tests, logistic regression, and correlation analysis. Ethical approval was obtained.
Results: The study revealed that 60.5% of autistic children tested positive for HSV-1, with differences in infection severity across age groups and genders. Genetic analysis revealed specific polymorphisms in the HLA gene, with severe autism cases more frequently associated with mutated heterozygous forms, particularly deletions at novel and new SNPs positions.
Conclusion: There is a link between HSV exposure and specific HLA polymorphisms in autistic children, potentially contributing to ASD pathogenesis. The findings suggest that HLA genotypes may influence immune responses, requiring further research for larger populations.
Keywords: Herpes Simplex Virus, Autism Spectrum Disorder, HLA, Genetic Polymorphisms, Viral Infection
