( ic spines are crucial for normal brain ...)Research Shows Way for Drug Therapy for Autism,Health

ic spines are crucial for normal brain function.

FXS patients have higher numbers of dendritic spines in their brains, but each spine is longer and thinner than in normal individuals.

"Our analysis shows that inhibition of PAK activity reverses the structural abnormality of neuronal connections seen in FXS mice," said Shankaranarayana Rao of NIMHANS, who was part of the study.

In addition to structural problems, these abnormal connections between neurons transmit weaker electric signals in FXS mice.

"Strikingly, blocking PAK activity also helped restore electrical signalling between neurons in the brains of the FXS mice," Chatterji said.

Interestingly, the FXS mice also exhibit abnormal behavioural symptoms like hyperactivity, purposeless, repetitive movements and learning difficulties commonly seen in autistic patients.

These behavioural problems are also ameliorated in the FXS mice with reduced PAK activity, the Indian researchers said.

Chatterji pointed out that the cutting-edge genetic engineering techniques used by his collaborators at MIT created a unique situation where PAK activity was blocked only after the debilitating symptoms of FXS had already taken hold in the mice.

"That PAK inhibition can reverse pre-existing symptoms of FXS is very good news for future design of drugs for treating fragile X in kids," said Chatterji.

There are known chemical compounds that inhibit the activity of PAK. These compounds or new ones targeted at PAK may greatly facilitate future development of drugs against FXS, and possibly autism as well, he said.


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