While blocking IL-17a also might offer a way to prevent autism, Lukens said it comes with certain risks. “If you think about pregnancy, the body is basically accepting foreign tissue, which is a baby,” he said. “As a result, maintenance of embryonic health demands a complex balance of immune regulation, so people tend to shy away from manipulating the immune system during pregnancy.”
He suggested there are plenty of other molecules to explore, as IL-17a is just a tiny part of a much bigger picture.
