Abstract |
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong developmental disorder characterized by social deficits and other behavioral abnormalities. Dysregulation of epigenetic processes, such as histone modifications and chromatin remodeling, have been implicated in ASD pathology, and provides a promising therapeutic target for ASD. Haploinsufficiency of the SHANK3 gene is causally linked to ASD, so adult (3-5 months old) Shank3-deficient male mice were used in this drug discovery study. We found that combined administration of the class I histone deacetylase inhibitor Romidepsin and the histone demethylase LSD1 inhibitor GSK-LSD1 persistently ameliorated the autism-like social preference deficits, while each individual drug alone was largely ineffective. Another behavioral abnormality in adult Shank3-deficient male mice, heightened aggression, was also alleviated by administration of the dual drugs. Furthermore, Romidepsin/GSK-LSD1 treatment significantly increased transcriptional levels of NMDA receptor subunits in prefrontal cortex (PFC) of adult Shank3-deficient mice, resulting in elevated synaptic expression of NMDA receptors and the restoration of NMDAR synaptic function in PFC pyramidal neurons. These results have offered a novel pharmacological intervention strategy for ASD beyond early developmental periods.
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Authors | Freddy Zhang, Benjamin Rein, Ping Zhong, Treefa Shwani, Megan Conrow-Graham, Zi-Jun Wang, Zhen Yan |
Journal | Translational psychiatry
(Transl Psychiatry)
Vol. 11
Issue 1
Pg. 99
(02 04 2021)
ISSN: 2158-3188 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 33542189
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)
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Chemical References |
- Histones
- Microfilament Proteins
- Nerve Tissue Proteins
- Shank3 protein, mouse
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Topics |
- Animals
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
(drug therapy, genetics)
- Disease Models, Animal
- Histones
- Male
- Mice
- Microfilament Proteins
- Nerve Tissue Proteins
(metabolism)
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