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- Title
NitroSynapsin therapy for a mouse MEF2C haploinsufficiency model of human autism.
- Authors
Shichun Tu; Akhtar, Mohd Waseem; Escorihuela, Rosa Maria; Amador-Arjona, Alejandro; Swarup, Vivek; Parker, James; Zaremba, Jeffrey D.; Holland, Timothy; Bansal, Neha; Holohan, Daniel R.; Lopez, Kevin; Ryan, Scott D.; Chan, Shing Fai; Li Yan; Xiaofei Zhang; Xiayu Huang; Sultan, Abdullah; McKercher, Scott R.; Ambasudhan, Rajesh; Huaxi Xu
- Abstract
Transcription factor MEF2C regulates multiple genes linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and human MEF2C haploinsufficiency results in ASD, intellectual disability, and epilepsy. However, molecular mechanisms underlying MEF2C haploinsufficiency syndrome remain poorly understood. Here we report that Mef2c+/−(Mef2c-het) mice exhibit behavioral deficits resembling those of human patients. Gene expression analyses on brains from these mice show changes in genes associated with neurogenesis, synapse formation, and neuronal cell death. Accordingly, Mef2c-het mice exhibit decreased neurogenesis, enhanced neuronal apoptosis, and an increased ratio of excitatory to inhibitory (E/I) neurotransmission. Importantly, neurobehavioral deficits, E/I imbalance, and histological damage are all ameliorated by treatment with NitroSynapsin, a new dual-action compound related to the FDAapproved drug memantine, representing an uncompetitive/fast off-rate antagonist of NMDAtype glutamate receptors. These results suggest that MEF2C haploinsufficiency leads to abnormal brain development, E/I imbalance, and neurobehavioral dysfunction, which may be mitigated by pharmacological intervention.
- Subjects
NEUROBEHAVIORAL disorders; AUTISM spectrum disorders; SYNAPTOGENESIS; AUTISM; NEURAL development; GLUTAMATE receptors
- Publication
Nature Communications, 2017, Vol 8, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
2041-1723
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/s41467-017-01563-8