Generic placeholder image

Current Pharmaceutical Design

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1381-6128
ISSN (Online): 1873-4286

Synaptic Plasticity as a Therapeutic Target in the Treatment of Autism-related Single-gene Disorders

Author(s): Marco Pignatelli, Marco Feligioni, Sonia Piccinin, Gemma Molinaro, Ferdinando Nicoletti and ">Robert Nisticò

Volume 19, Issue 36, 2013

Page: [6480 - 6490] Pages: 11

DOI: 10.2174/1381612811319360008

Price: $65

Abstract

The term "Autism Spectrum" is often used to describe disorders that are currently classified as Pervasive Developmental Disorders. These disorders are typically characterized by social deficits, communication difficulties, stereotyped or repetitive behaviors and/or cognitive delays or mental retardation; sometimes they present high comorbidity rates with epilepsy. Although these diagnoses share some common features, individuals with these disorders are thought to be "on the spectrum" because of differences in severity across these domains.

Recent advances in the genetics of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are offering new valuable insights into molecular and cellular mechanisms of pathology. Of particular interest are transgenic technologies that allowed the engineering of several mouse models mimicking different kinds of monogenic heritable forms of ASDs. These transgenic models provide excellent opportunities to explore in detail cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying disease pathology and to identify novel targets for therapeutic intervention.

Increasing evidence suggests that the pathophysiological core of the murine model is primarily due to changes in normal synaptic transmission and plasticity.

Here, we will extensively review the synaptic alterations across different animal models of ASDs and recapitulate the pharmacological strategies aimed at rescuing hippocampal plasticity phenotypes. We describe how pharmacological modulation of mGlu5 receptor, through the use of positive or negative allosteric modulators (depending on the specific disorder), may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for ASDs treatment.

Keywords: Synaptic plasticity, long-term potentiation, long-term depression, monogenic autism, mGLURs.


Rights & Permissions Print Cite
© 2024 Bentham Science Publishers | Privacy Policy