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M K, M R, J B, A BI, K IP, R W, E O, A ZK, R S, R P. Neurodevelopmental disorder in a patient with HMBS and SCN3A variants-A possibly blended phenotype further delineating autosomal recessive HMBS related disease. Am J Med Genet A 2024; 194:e63617. [PMID: 38568055 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.63617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Monoallelic pathogenic HMBS variants are a well-established cause of acute intermittent porphyria (AIP), whereas biallelic pathogenic variants may cause HMBS-related leukoencephalopathy which remains a poorly characterized disorder. We describe an 8-year-old girl with hypotonia, hearing impairment, horizontal nystagmus, bilateral strabismus, impaired visual acuity, and optic nerve atrophy. She had no epilepsy but sleep electroencephalogram showed paroxysmal changes in the right hemisphere with secondary generalizations. Brain magnetic resonance imaging was unremarkable apart from a few small white matter hyperintensities. Exome sequencing (ES) initially prioritized a SCN3A c.3822G>A de novo variant whose sole causative role was eventually questioned as not fully compatible with symptoms. ES reanalysis revealed a homozygous c.674G>A HMBS variant. In the monoallelic form this variant is a known cause of AIP, whereas in trans with another HMBS pathogenic variant it was associated with the HMBS-related leukoencephalopathy in four individuals. Despite lack of signs/symptoms of porphyria, literature analysis suggested that HMBS c.674G>A likely contributed to the disease either as the sole cause or together with SCN3A c.3822G>A as a part of blended phenotype. Our report adds to the relatively small number of described cases of HMBS-related leukoencephalopathy and emphasizes that autosomal recessive form of HMBS disease can be present in the absence of porphyria symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kłaniewska M
- Department of Family and Pediatric Nursing, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Rydzanicz M
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Bladowska J
- Department of Radiology, Wroclaw 4th Military Clinical Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Borys-Iwanicka A
- Department of Paediatrics, Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Iwanicka-Pronicka K
- Department of Medical Genetics, The Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wasilewski R
- Department of Disorders of Hemostasis and Internal Medicine, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Odnoczko E
- Laboratory of Genetics in Hemostasis and Porphyria, Department of Hemostasis and Metabolic Disorders, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Zubkiewicz-Kucharska A
- Department of Pediatrics, Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolic Diseases, Medical University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Smigiel R
- Department of Pediatrics, Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolic Diseases, Medical University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Ploski R
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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Sriretnakumar V, Harripaul R, Kennedy JL, So J. When rare meets common: Treatable genetic diseases are enriched in the general psychiatric population. Am J Med Genet A 2024; 194:e63609. [PMID: 38532509 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.63609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Mental illnesses are one of the biggest contributors to the global disease burden. Despite the increased recognition, diagnosis and ongoing research of mental health disorders, the etiology and underlying molecular mechanisms of these disorders are yet to be fully elucidated. Moreover, despite many treatment options available, a large subset of the psychiatric patient population is nonresponsive to standard medications and therapies. There has not been a comprehensive study to date examining the burden and impact of treatable genetic disorders (TGDs) that can present with neuropsychiatric features in psychiatric patient populations. In this study, we test the hypothesis that TGDs that present with psychiatric symptoms are more prevalent within psychiatric patient populations compared to the general population by performing targeted next-generation sequencing of 129 genes associated with 108 TGDs in a cohort of 2301 psychiatric patients. In total, 48 putative affected and 180 putative carriers for TGDs were identified, with known or likely pathogenic variants in 79 genes. Despite screening for only 108 genetic disorders, this study showed a two-fold (2.09%) enrichment for genetic disorders within the psychiatric population relative to the estimated 1% cumulative prevalence of all single gene disorders globally. This strongly suggests that the prevalence of these, and most likely all, genetic diseases is greatly underestimated in psychiatric populations. Increasing awareness and ensuring accurate diagnosis of TGDs will open new avenues to targeted treatment for a subset of psychiatric patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venuja Sriretnakumar
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Ricardo Harripaul
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - James L Kennedy
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Joyce So
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Division of Medical Genetics, Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
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de Cássia Collaço R, Lammens M, Blevins C, Rodgers K, Gurau A, Yamauchi S, Kim C, Forrester J, Liu E, Ha J, Mei Y, Boehm C, Wohler E, Sobreira N, Rowe PC, Valle D, Brock MV, Bosmans F. Anxiety and dysautonomia symptoms in patients with a Na V1.7 mutation and the potential benefits of low-dose short-acting guanfacine. Clin Auton Res 2024; 34:191-201. [PMID: 38064009 DOI: 10.1007/s10286-023-01004-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Guanfacine is an α2A-adrenergic receptor agonist, FDA-approved to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and high blood pressure, typically as an extended-release formulation up to 7 mg/day. In our dysautonomia clinic, we observed that off-label use of short-acting guanfacine at 1 mg/day facilitated symptom relief in two families with multiple members presenting with severe generalized anxiety. We also noted anecdotal improvements in associated dysautonomia symptoms such as hyperhidrosis, cognitive impairment, and palpitations. We postulated that a genetic deficit existed in these patients that might augment guanfacine susceptibility. METHODS We used whole-exome sequencing to identify mutations in patients with shared generalized anxiety and dysautonomia symptoms. Guanfacine-induced changes in the function of voltage-gated Na+ channels were investigated using voltage-clamp electrophysiology. RESULTS Whole-exome sequencing uncovered the p.I739V mutation in SCN9A in the proband of two nonrelated families. Moreover, guanfacine inhibited ionic currents evoked by wild-type and mutant NaV1.7 encoded by SCN9A, as well as other NaV channel subtypes to a varying degree. CONCLUSION Our study provides further evidence for a possible pathophysiological role of NaV1.7 in anxiety and dysautonomia. Combined with off-target effects on NaV channel function, daily administration of 1 mg short-acting guanfacine may be sufficient to normalize NaV channel mutation-induced changes in sympathetic activity, perhaps aided by partial inhibition of NaV1.7 or other channel subtypes. In a broader context, expanding genetic and functional data about ion channel aberrations may enable the prospect of stratifying patients in which mutation-induced increased sympathetic tone normalization by guanfacine can support treatment strategies for anxiety and dysautonomia symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita de Cássia Collaço
- Molecular Physiology and Neurophysics Group, Department of Basic and Applied Medical Sciences, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Maxime Lammens
- Molecular Physiology and Neurophysics Group, Department of Basic and Applied Medical Sciences, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Carley Blevins
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kristen Rodgers
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Andrei Gurau
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Suguru Yamauchi
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Christine Kim
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jeannine Forrester
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Edward Liu
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jinny Ha
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Yuping Mei
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Corrine Boehm
- McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Elizabeth Wohler
- McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nara Sobreira
- McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Peter C Rowe
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - David Valle
- McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Malcolm V Brock
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Frank Bosmans
- Molecular Physiology and Neurophysics Group, Department of Basic and Applied Medical Sciences, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
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Ghafouri-Fard S, Pourtavakoli A, Hussen BM, Taheri M, Ayatollahi SA. A Review on the Role of Genetic Mutations in the Autism Spectrum Disorder. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:5256-5272. [PMID: 37278883 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03405-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is among the most widespread neurodevelopmental diseases, with an approximate prevalence rate of 1 in 59. From a genetic point of view, this disorder is highly heterogeneous. This disorder is associated with both inheritable and de novo mutations in several genes. In addition to genetic loci that are identified through early karyotype analyses, recent advent of high throughput sequencing methods has facilitated identification of several genetic loci that confer risk of ASD. The current review provides an overview of different types of identified mutations including missense and nonsense mutations and copy number variations in various genes in individuals affected with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soudeh Ghafouri-Fard
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ashkan Pourtavakoli
- Phytochemistry Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bashdar Mahmud Hussen
- Department of Clinical Analysis, College of Pharmacy, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| | - Mohammad Taheri
- Institute of Human Genetics, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
- Urology and Nephrology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Soliani L, Alcalá San Martín A, Balsells S, Hernando‐Davalillo C, Ortigoza‐Escobar JD. Chromosome Microarray Analysis for the Investigation of Deletions in Pediatric Movement Disorders: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Mov Disord Clin Pract 2023; 10:547-557. [PMID: 37070051 PMCID: PMC10105116 DOI: 10.1002/mdc3.13711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Chromosome microarray analysis (CMA) can detect copy number variants (CNV) beyond the resolution of standard G-banded karyotyping. De novo or inherited microdeletions may cause autosomal dominant movement disorders. Objectives The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics, associated features, and genetic information of children with deletions in known genes that cause movement disorders and to make recommendations regarding the diagnostic application of CMA. Methods Clinical cases published in English were identified in scientific databases (PubMed, ClinVar, and DECIPHER) from January 1998 to July 2019 following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Cases with deletions or microdeletions greater than 300 kb were selected. Information collected included age, sex, movement disorders, associated features, and the size and location of the deletion. Duplications or microduplications were not included. Results A total of 18.097 records were reviewed, and 171 individuals were identified. Ataxia (30.4%), stereotypies (23.9%), and dystonia (21%) were the most common movement disorders. A total of 16% of the patients demonstrated more than one movement disorder. The most common associated features were intellectual disability or developmental delay (78.9%) and facial dysmorphism (57.8%). The majority (77.7%) of microdeletions were smaller than 5 Mb. We find no correlation between movement disorders, their associated features, and the size of microdeletions. Conclusions Our results support the use of CMA as an investigational test in children with movement disorders. As the majority of identified articles were case reports and small case series (low quality), future efforts should focus on larger prospective studies to examine the causation of microdeletions in pediatric movement disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Soliani
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna UOC Neuropsichiatria dell'età PediatricaBolognaItaly
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche (DIMEC) Università di BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - Adrián Alcalá San Martín
- Department of Genetic and Molecular Medicine and Pediatric Institute of Rare DiseasesHospital Sant Joan de Déu BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Sol Balsells
- Department of StatisticsInstitut de Recerca Sant Joan de DéuBarcelonaSpain
| | - Cristina Hernando‐Davalillo
- Department of Genetic and Molecular Medicine and Pediatric Institute of Rare DiseasesHospital Sant Joan de Déu BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Juan Darío Ortigoza‐Escobar
- U‐703 Centre for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases (CIBER‐ER)Instituto de Salud Carlos IIIBarcelonaSpain
- Movement Disorders Unit, Pediatric Neurology Department, Institut de RecercaHospital Sant Joan de Déu BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
- European Reference Network for Rare Neurological Diseases (ERN‐RND)BarcelonaSpain
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Ithal D, Sukumaran SK, Bhattacharjee D, Vemula A, Nadella R, Mahadevan J, Sud R, Viswanath B, Purushottam M, Jain S. Exome hits demystified: The next frontier. Asian J Psychiatr 2021; 59:102640. [PMID: 33892377 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2021.102640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder have complex inheritance patterns, involving both common and rare variants. Whole exome sequencing is a promising approach to find out the rare genetic variants. We had previously reported several rare variants in multiplex families with severe mental illnesses. The current article tries to summarise the biological processes and pattern of expression of genes harbouring the aforementioned variants, linking them to known clinical manifestations through a methodical narrative review. Of the 28 genes considered for this review from 7 families with multiple affected individuals, 6 genes are implicated in various neuropsychiatric manifestations including some variations in the brain morphology assessed by magnetic resonance imaging. Another 15 genes, though associated with neuropsychiatric manifestations, did not have established brain morphological changes whereas the remaining 7 genes did not have any previously recorded neuropsychiatric manifestations at all. Wnt/b-catenin signaling pathway was associated with 6 of these genes and PI3K/AKT, calcium signaling, ERK, RhoA and notch signaling pathways had at least 2 gene associations. We present a comprehensive review of biological and clinical knowledge about the genes previously reported in multiplex families with severe mental illness. A 'disease in dish approach' can be helpful to further explore the fundamental mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhruva Ithal
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Salil K Sukumaran
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Debanjan Bhattacharjee
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Alekhya Vemula
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Ravi Nadella
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Jayant Mahadevan
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Reeteka Sud
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Biju Viswanath
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Meera Purushottam
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
| | - Sanjeev Jain
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
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A De Novo Missense Variant of SCN2A: Implications and Limitations for Understanding Clinical Phenotype and Treatment Recommendations. Clin Neuropharmacol 2021; 44:138-140. [PMID: 33901038 DOI: 10.1097/wnf.0000000000000457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Autism spectrum disorder can be associated with a variety of genetic findings. We report a heterozygous de novo missense variant of SCN2A, the gene coding a voltage-gated sodium ion channel enriched in the axon initial segment and nodes of Ranvier of "immature" neocortical pyramidal neurons. With further understanding of the neurodevelopmental and functional effects of this missense variant on neuronal excitability and neocortical circuitry, there may be targeted pharmacotherapeutic interventions, potentially with "disease-modifying effects."
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Gulisano M, Barone R, Mosa MR, Milana MC, Saia F, Scerbo M, Rizzo R. Incidence of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Youths Affected by Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome Based on Data from a Large Single Italian Clinical Cohort. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10110812. [PMID: 33147879 PMCID: PMC7692268 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10110812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are etiologically related neurodevelopmental disorders with an onset age before 18 years and a reported comorbidity of 2.9–20%. The aim of the present study was to identify the incidence of ASD in a large clinical sample of individuals affected by GTS and to compare our results with previously reported incidences. We retrospectively analyzed clinical data (n = 1200) from January 2010 to March 2019 obtained from the outpatient Catania Tourette Clinic, part of the Child and Adolescent Neurology and Psychiatry of the Medical and Experimental Department of Catania University. We used internationally validated evaluation tools. The neuropsychological evaluation was carried out by an expert and a certificated team of child and adolescent neurologists, supervised by two expert child neurologists (R.R. and M.G.). We investigated 975 GTS-affected individuals of various socioeconomic levels aged 5–18 years, and 8.9% (n = 87) were affected by ASD. The incidence of GTS with ASD was significantly lower (p < 0.001) in children than in adolescents. No statistically significant differences were found in the sex distribution and age of onset of tics between individuals with GTS alone and those with GTS and ASD. The incidence of GTS and ASD comorbidity in this study was high, and this has several implications in terms of treatment and prognosis.
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Association of genes with phenotype in autism spectrum disorder. Aging (Albany NY) 2019; 11:10742-10770. [PMID: 31744938 PMCID: PMC6914398 DOI: 10.18632/aging.102473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a genetic heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by impairments in social interaction and speech development and is accompanied by stereotypical behaviors such as body rocking, hand flapping, spinning objects, sniffing and restricted behaviors. The considerable significance of the genetics associated with autism has led to the identification of many risk genes for ASD used for the probing of ASD specificity and shared cognitive features over the past few decades. Identification of ASD risk genes helps to unravel various genetic variants and signaling pathways which are involved in ASD. This review highlights the role of ASD risk genes in gene transcription and translation regulation processes, as well as neuronal activity modulation, synaptic plasticity, disrupted key biological signaling pathways, and the novel candidate genes that play a significant role in the pathophysiology of ASD. The current emphasis on autism spectrum disorders has generated new opportunities in the field of neuroscience, and further advancements in the identification of different biomarkers, risk genes, and genetic pathways can help in the early diagnosis and development of new clinical and pharmacological treatments for ASD.
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