Assessment of metallothionein and antibodies to metallothionein in normal and autistic children having exposure to vaccine‐derived thimerosal

Allergic autoimmune reaction after exposure to heavy metals such as mercury may play a causal role in autism, a developmental disorder of the central nervous system. As metallothionein (MT) is the primary metal‐detoxifying protein in the body, we conducted a study of the MT protein and antibodies to metallothionein (anti‐MT) in normal and autistic children whose exposure to mercury was only from thimerosal‐containing vaccines. Laboratory analysis by immunoassays revealed that the serum level of MT did not significantly differ between normal and autistic children. Furthermore, autistic children harboured normal levels of anti‐MT, including antibodies to isoform MT‐I (anti‐MT‐I) and MT‐II (anti‐MT‐II), without any significant difference between normal and autistic children. Our findings indicate that because autistic children have a normal profile of MT and anti‐MT, the mercury‐induced autoimmunity to MT may not be implicated in the pathogenesis of autism.

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