We examined the effects of early-life immune system activation (EIA)—comprising regimens of prenatal, early postnatal, or combined (“two-hit”) immune activation—on the core behavioral features of ASD (decreased social interaction, increased repetitive behavior, and aberrant communication) in mice. There is increasing evidence that the immune system is involved in neuropsychiatric illnesses. There are higher rates of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in families with a history of autoimmune disorders, and maternal infection or fever during pregnancy increases the risk that offspring will develop ASD.
