NEW THERAPY FOR AUTISM SUBTYPE

Northwestern Investigators Develop New Therapy for Autism Subtype

A team of Northwestern investigators led by Peter Penzes, PhD, the Ruth and Evelyn Dunbar Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and director of the Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, has developed a new therapy that could treat Phelan-McDermid syndrome, a subtype of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to findings published in Molecular Psychiatry.  

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 44 children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with ASD and each patient presents diverse clinical and developmental symptoms, which may include delayed speech, motor skills and learning skills, epilepsy, poor eating and sleeping habits, and gastrointestinal issues.  

Phelan-McDermid syndrome is known to be caused by a specific genetic mutation in SHANK3, a well-known ASD candidate gene. Due to the heterogeneity of ASD, the development of effective targeted therapies has been extremely challenging, leaving patients with treatment options that improve disease management. 

Based on the urgent need for new therapies, Penzes’ team developed a derivative of an insulin-like growth factor-binding protein, IGFBP2, which is found in structures of the brain affected in ASD and has been shown to improve neuroplasticity and cognitive functions.  

In the current study, the investigators administered the IGFBP2-derived peptide, called JB2, to mice with SHANK3 mutations. Through advanced brain imaging, they found that the drug improved neuroplasticity, behavior impairments and cellular processes in the mices’ brains.  

These changes were directly correlated with improvements in the mices’ learning and memory skills, motor function and communication through ultrasonic vocalizations, findings that could be translated to social behaviors in humans, according to Penzes. 

“In patients with autism, speech doesn’t develop at all, or it develops very late, or it’s very simplified, so these ultrasonic vocalizations in mice are thought to somehow model that in mice,” said Penzes, who is also professor of Neuroscience and of Pharmacology

Using electroencephalography to measure the mice’s brain activity, the team also discovered that JB2 normalized neuronal excitability, or how neurons respond to stimuli with an electric charge, and seizure susceptibility.  

While the drug is still in early stages, Penzes said, theoretically, routinely administering the drug into patients’ bloodstreams while they are young either through regular injections or in pill form would be ideal.   

“Because this is a neurodevelopmental condition, the brain still changes after birth, even into adulthood. The earlier one could intervene, the better. So, it would be preferable to start it as a pediatric medication, but those are more difficult to get approval for,” Penzes said.   

Penzes noted that initial clinical trials would involve participants with Phelan-McDermid syndrome and if successful, could eventually expand to include patients with other types of ASD.  

“The assumption is that similar changes are happening in the brains of patients with other types of autism and in Phelan-McDermid syndrome, but these patients would have a better response,” Penzes said.  

Co-authors of the study include Sehyoun Yoon, PhD, research assistant professor of Neuroscience, Jeffrey Burgdorf, PhD, adjunct professor of Biomedical Engineering at the McCormick School of Engineering, Marc Dos Santos, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in the Penzes laboratory, and Joseph Moskal, PhD, professor of Biomedical Engineering at the McCormick School of Engineering.  

This work, part of ongoing efforts by the Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment to develop new therapies, was supported by National Institute of Mental Health grant R41MH121140. 

FUENTE:Northwestern Investigators Develop New Therapy for Autism Subtype – News Center

Esta entrada fue publicada en AUTISMO, INVESTIGACION. Guarda el enlace permanente.

27 respuestas a NEW THERAPY FOR AUTISM SUBTYPE

  1. I too think thus, perfectly written post! .

  2. I am constantly looking online for posts that can facilitate me. Thank you!

  3. Ruel dijo:

    Wonderful work! This is the kind of information that are meant to be shared
    around the web. Disgrace on the seek engines for now not positioning this submit higher!
    Come on over and consult with my site . Thank you =)

  4. Staceyann dijo:

    I constantly emailed this website post page to all my associates,
    for the reason that if like to read it after that my links will too.

  5. Colbey dijo:

    Appreciate this post. Will try it out.

  6. Sandi dijo:

    I don’t even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was good.
    I do not know who you are but certainly you’re going to a famous blogger if you are not
    already 😉 Cheers!

  7. Camy dijo:

    It’s awesome for me to have a web page, which is useful in support of my knowledge.

    thanks admin

  8. Shanicka dijo:

    We are a group of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community.
    Your web site provided us with valuable information to work on. You’ve done an impressive
    job and our entire community will be thankful to you.

  9. Melissasue dijo:

    Hi there exceptional blog! Does running a blog like this require a massive amount work?

    I have absolutely no understanding of programming but I was
    hoping to start my own blog in the near future.
    Anyway, if you have any suggestions or techniques for new
    blog owners please share. I understand this is off topic
    nevertheless I simply wanted to ask. Appreciate it!

  10. Shariff dijo:

    Thanks for some other great article. The place else may just anybody
    get that type of info in such a perfect means of writing? I’ve a presentation subsequent week, and
    I am at the look for such info.

  11. I just could not depart your web site before suggesting that I actually enjoyed the standard information a person provide for your visitors? Is gonna be back often to check up on new posts

  12. You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be actually something which I think I would never understand. It seems too complicated and extremely broad for me. I’m looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!

  13. Wow, fantastic blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your web site is great, as well as the content!

  14. I’ve been browsing online more than three hours as of late, but I by no means discovered any interesting article like yours. It is lovely price enough for me. Personally, if all web owners and bloggers made good content as you probably did, the internet will be a lot more useful than ever before.

  15. Wow that was strange. I just wrote an extremely long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t show up. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyhow, just wanted to say excellent blog!

  16. Im thankful for the blog.Much thanks again. Keep writing.

  17. Genesia dijo:

    Hey there, You’ve done an excellent job. I will definitely digg it
    and personally recommend to my friends. I am sure they will be benefited from this web
    site.

  18. Capri dijo:

    It’s great that you are getting thoughts from this paragraph as well
    as from our argument made at this time.

  19. Trenisha dijo:

    Keep on writing, great job!

  20. Syeda dijo:

    Amazing blog! Do you have any suggestions for aspiring writers?
    I’m hoping to start my own blog soon but I’m a little lost on everything.
    Would you recommend starting with a free platform like WordPress
    or go for a paid option? There are so many choices out
    there that I’m completely confused .. Any tips? Bless you!

  21. Nika dijo:

    I love it when people get together and share thoughts.
    Great site, continue the good work!

  22. Joi dijo:

    Hi there everyone, it’s my first pay a quick visit at this web page,
    and paragraph is genuinely fruitful in favor of
    me, keep up posting these types of articles or
    reviews.

  23. Ashlely dijo:

    I do believe all the ideas you’ve introduced to your post.
    They’re very convincing and can certainly work. Nonetheless,
    the posts are very brief for starters. Could you please
    lengthen them a bit from subsequent time? Thank you for the post.

  24. Heena dijo:

    Its like you read my thoughts! You appear to understand so
    much approximately this, like you wrote the e book in it or
    something. I feel that you just can do with a few percent to drive the message
    house a bit, however instead of that, that is great
    blog. A fantastic read. I will definitely be back.

  25. Yasser dijo:

    Thanks for the good writeup. It in reality used to be a entertainment
    account it. Glance advanced to more added agreeable from you!
    By the way, how can we be in contact?

  26. An impressive share, I just given this onto a colleague who was doing a little analysis on this. And he in fact bought me breakfast because I found it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the treat! But yeah Thnkx for spending the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love reading more on this topic. If possible, as you become expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more details? It is highly helpful for me. Big thumb up for this blog post!

Deja una respuesta

Tu dirección de correo electrónico no será publicada. Los campos obligatorios están marcados con *