» Articles » PMID: 30121973

Microglia and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Overview of Current Evidence and Novel Immunomodulatory Treatment Options

Overview
Specialty Psychiatry
Date 2018 Aug 21
PMID 30121973
Citations 9
Authors
Affiliations
Soon will be listed here.
Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder is a rapidly increasing heterogeneous neurodevelopmental syndrome, remarked by persistent deficit in social communication, and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior and interest. Lately, maternal immune activation and micgroglial dysfunction in the developing brain have been gaining mounting evidence and leading to studies of various novel agents as potential treatment options. A few immunomodulatory treatment options-luteolin, minocycline, suramin, vitamin D, gut microbiota-are discussed in the current article, regarding the current understanding of their mechanisms and evidence for potential clinical use. More studies are warranted to understand their exact mechanisms of action and to verify efficacy and safety in human subjects.

Citing Articles

Transcranial photobiomodulation for reducing symptoms of autism spectrum disorder and modulating brain electrophysiology in children aged 2-7: an open label study.

Fradkin Y, Anguera J, Simon A, De Taboada L, Steingold E Front Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2025; 4:1477839.

PMID: 39944746 PMC: 11814471. DOI: 10.3389/frcha.2025.1477839.


Potential natural products for the management of autism spectrum disorder.

Sachdeva P, Mehdi I, Kaith R, Ahmad F, Anwar M Ibrain. 2023; 8(3):365-376.

PMID: 37786737 PMC: 10528773. DOI: 10.1002/ibra.12050.


Modelling the Interplay Between Neuron-Glia Cell Dysfunction and Glial Therapy in Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Unnisa A, Greig N, Kamal M Curr Neuropharmacol. 2022; 21(3):547-559.

PMID: 36545725 PMC: 10207919. DOI: 10.2174/1570159X21666221221142743.


Maternal diet and obesity shape offspring central and peripheral inflammatory outcomes in juvenile non-human primates.

Dunn G, Mitchell A, Selby M, Fair D, Gustafsson H, Sullivan E Brain Behav Immun. 2022; 102:224-236.

PMID: 35217175 PMC: 8995380. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.02.024.


The Human Gut Microbiome as a Potential Factor in Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Alharthi A, Alhazmi S, Alburae N, Bahieldin A Int J Mol Sci. 2022; 23(3).

PMID: 35163286 PMC: 8835713. DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031363.


References
1.
Tang G, Gudsnuk K, Kuo S, Cotrina M, Rosoklija G, Sosunov A . Loss of mTOR-dependent macroautophagy causes autistic-like synaptic pruning deficits. Neuron. 2014; 83(5):1131-43. PMC: 4159743. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2014.07.040. View

2.
Bertolino B, Crupi R, Impellizzeri D, Bruschetta G, Cordaro M, Siracusa R . Beneficial Effects of Co-Ultramicronized Palmitoylethanolamide/Luteolin in a Mouse Model of Autism and in a Case Report of Autism. CNS Neurosci Ther. 2016; 23(1):87-98. PMC: 6492645. DOI: 10.1111/cns.12648. View

3.
Taliou A, Zintzaras E, Lykouras L, Francis K . An open-label pilot study of a formulation containing the anti-inflammatory flavonoid luteolin and its effects on behavior in children with autism spectrum disorders. Clin Ther. 2013; 35(5):592-602. DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2013.04.006. View

4.
Casano A, Peri F . Microglia: multitasking specialists of the brain. Dev Cell. 2015; 32(4):469-77. DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2015.01.018. View

5.
Cryan J, Dinan T . Mind-altering microorganisms: the impact of the gut microbiota on brain and behaviour. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2012; 13(10):701-12. DOI: 10.1038/nrn3346. View