Elevated levels of IFNgamma have been observed in plasma (Singh, 1996 and others) and post-mortem brain tissue (Li et al., 2009) from autistic individuals, as well as in mid-gestational serum samples from mothers who gave birth to autistic children (Goines et al., 2011). Deletion of IFNG resulted in deficits in social behavior and aberrent hyper-connectivity in fronto-cortical/insular brain regions in mice; a single injection of recombinant IFNgamma into the cerebrospinal fluid of these mice was able to restore social preference and reduce overall hyper-connectivity in the PFC (Filiano et al., 2016).
Molecular Function
This gene encodes a soluble cytokine that is a member of the type II interferon class and is secreted by cells of both the innate and adaptive immune systems. In addition to having antiviral activity, IFN-gamma has important immunoregulatory functions: it is a potent activator of macrophages, it has antiproliferative effects on transformed cells and it can potentiate the antiviral and antitumor effects of the type I interferons.
External Links
References
Type
Title
Type of Disorder
Associated Disorders
Author, Year
Primary
Plasma increase of interleukin-12 and interferon-gamma. Pathological significance in autism.
Mice deficient in interferon gamma have increased susceptibility to viral, bacterial and parasitic infections and to autoimmune diseases and have impaired social behavior.
References
Type
Title
Author, Year
Primary
Unexpected role of interferon- in regulating neuronal connectivity and social behaviour.
Model Type:
Genetic
Model Genotype:
Homozygous
Mutation:
The exact construct details or citation is not provided in Filiano et al Nature 2016 (PMID: 27409813) for the IFNG knockout used in the article.
Allele Type: Targeted(knockout)
Strain of Origin: Genetic Background: C57Bl/6
ES Cell Line: Mutant ES Cell Line: Model Source: JAX
Functional magnetic resonance imaging: connectivity1
Increased
Description: Ifng ko mice have increased connectivity (hyperconnectivity) between many brain regions in the prefrontal cortex detected by resting state fmri, including connections from frontal association areas to lateral and contra lateral orbital cortex, lateral insula; right orbital cortex and left insula; left and right prefrontal cortices; right prefrontal cortex and left insula
Exp Paradigm: NA
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fmri)-resting state
