Synaptic Dysfunction Attributes to Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract: 

Yougen Zhan, MD, PhD;* Xuejun Kong, MD

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a range of high prevalent disorders that can be characterized as a syndrome of social communication deficits, repetitive behavior or restrictive interest. Rapid advance beyond environmental influence is made through identifications of associated genetic variations. Emerging evidence from human and animal models demonstrate impairment in synaptic function is an etiology of ASD. This review focuses on several synaptic proteins that are mutated in some patients and their autistic behaviors and cognitive deficits are recapitulated in animal models.

Key Words: ASD, synapse, mutation, neurexin, neuroligin and SHANK ASD, synapse, mutation, neurexin, neuroligin and SHANK

Yougen Zhan, MD, PhD;1* Xuejun Kong, MD2
1 Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
2 Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
*Corresponding Author: Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115. (Email: ygzhan@gmail.com)

CONFLICT OF INTEREST
None.

  1. A pilot study on the diagnostic performance of DMS-IV and DMS-V for autism spectrum disorder
  2. A review of the Neurobiological Basis of Autism
  3. Autism Disease: Neural Network Going Awry and Therapeutic Strategy Underlying Neural Plasticity
  4. Autism of Acupuncture Perspective
  5. Behavioral Treatment for Children with Autism
  6. Do apparent overlaps between schizophrenia and autistic spectrum disorders reflect superficial similarities or etiological commonalities?
  7. Effective Treatments for Auditory Sensitivities in Autism
  8. Maternal Diabetes and Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Offspring: A Review of Epidemiological Evidence and Potential Biologic Mechanisms
  9. NAJMS. 2011;4(3): Preface
  10. Prospect of Stem Cell Therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorders
  11. Synaptic Dysfunction Attributes to Autism Spectrum Disorder