Cancer trial drugs offer hope of reversing genetic form of Autism
Scientists have discovered a possible treatment to reverse a genetic form of autism – by using cancer drugs.
A team of researchers have discovered that an experimental drug can potentially treat, and even permanently reverse, the symptoms associated with a genetic form of autism spectrum disorder.
They discovered that the lack of a protein called ERK1 in people with a missing region on chromosome 16 leads to an abnormal activation of another protein – ERK2.
The study is published in the Journal of Neuroscience.
By using cancer trial drugs to inhibit the function of ERK2 to reach the brain, the researchers restored normal brain function in mice and reversed most of the behavioural deficits associated with autism spectrum disorder.
ERK1 and ERK2 proteins are currently major targets for cancer therapy trials so it is possible, in principle, to develop suitable drugs to treat this form of autism spectrum disorder based on knowledge of tumour biology.
Professor Riccardo Brambilla (pictured), from Cardiff University, said: “By limiting the function of the protein that appears to cause autism symptoms in people with the chromosome 16 defect, the trial drug not only provided symptomatic relief when administered to adult mice, but also prevented genetically predisposed mice from being born with the form of autism spectrum disorder, when administered to the mother during gestation.
“While it wouldn’t be feasible to treat pregnant women who have been screened for the genetic abnormality, it could be possible, in principle, to permanently reverse the disorder by treating a child as early as possible after birth.
“In the case of adults with the condition, ongoing medication would probably be required to treat symptoms.”
Autism spectrum disorder is a complex developmental disorder, with a strong genetic component, which manifests during childhood.
It is characterised by deficits in the domain of social interaction and communication, stereotyped behaviour, delayed speech and language and can also be associated with intellectual disability.
There are around 700,000 people on the autism spectrum in the UK – more than one in 100 – and when including families, it is a part of daily life for 2.8 million people.
The prevalence of the chromosome 16 defect is much lower, found in around 1:100 people with autism.
The research, in collaboration with the laboratory of Professor Gary Landreth from Indiana University School of Medicine and Dr Alessandro Gozzi from the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, was carried out using mice and monitoring the effect of the drug on their brains and behaviour.
The drugs used are experimental and cannot yet be used in humans.
The next step is to develop new collaborations to explore the full therapeutic potential of the findings, with the ultimate goal of validating clinically relevant drugs to test in trials for autism spectrum disorder patients affected by the chromosome 16 defect.
Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2018, All Rights Reserved. Picture (C) Cardiff University.
