Title:Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders by Mitochondrial-targeted
Drug: Future of Neurological Diseases Therapeutics
Volume: 21
Issue: 5
Author(s): Showkat Ul Nabi, Muneeb U. Rehman*, Azher Arafah, Syed Taifa, Iqra Shafi Khan, Andleeb Khan*, Summya Rashid, Fatimah Jan, Hilal Ahmad Wani and Sheikh Fayaz Ahmad
Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University,
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University,
Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia
Keywords:
Autism, autism spectrum disorders, mitochondria, mitochondrial dysfunction, therapeutic target, neurodevelopmental disorder.
Abstract: Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a complex etiology that might involve environmental
and genetic variables. Recently, some epidemiological studies conducted in various parts of
the world have estimated a significant increase in the prevalence of autism, with 1 in every 59 children
having some degree of autism. Since autism has been associated with other clinical abnormalities,
there is every possibility that a sub-cellular component may be involved in the progression of autism.
The organelle remains a focus based on mitochondria's functionality and metabolic role in cells. Furthermore,
the mitochondrial genome is inherited maternally and has its DNA and organelle that remain
actively involved during embryonic development; these characteristics have linked mitochondrial dysfunction
to autism. Although rapid stride has been made in autism research, there are limited studies
that have made particular emphasis on mitochondrial dysfunction and autism. Accumulating evidence
from studies conducted at cellular and sub-cellular levels has indicated that mitochondrial dysfunction's
role in autism is more than expected. The present review has attempted to describe the risk factors
of autism, the role of mitochondria in the progression of the disease, oxidative damage as a trigger
point to initiate mitochondrial damage, genetic determinants of the disease, possible pathogenic pathways
and therapeutic regimen in vogue and the developmental stage. Furthermore, in the present review,
an attempt has been made to include the novel therapeutic regimens under investigation at different
clinical trial stages and their potential possibility to emerge as promising drugs against ASD.
