The Immune System in Down Syndrome: Autoimmunity and Severe Infections

Individuals with Down syndrome experience dysregulation of both innate and adaptive immune systems, resulting in increased susceptibility to autoimmunity and severe infections compared to the general population. Documented immune alterations include elevated cytokine levels, increased interferon signaling, shifts toward memory T-cell phenotypes, and reduced B-cell compartment size, which contribute to both autoinflammatory conditions and heightened infection severity.