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Are Molecules Involved in Neuritogenesis and Axon Guidance Related to Autism Pathogenesis?

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Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder is a heterogeneous disease, and numerous alterations of gene expression come into play to attempt to explain potential molecular and pathophysiological causes. Abnormalities of brain development and connectivity associated with alterations in cytoskeletal rearrangement, neuritogenesis and elongation of axons and dendrites might represent or contribute to the structural basis of autism pathology. Slit/Robo signaling regulates cytoskeletal remodeling related to axonal and dendritic branching. Components of its signaling pathway (ABL and Cdc42) are suspected to be molecular bases of alterations of normal development. The present review describes the most important mechanisms underlying neuritogenesis, axon pathfinding and the role of GTPases in neurite outgrowth, with special emphasis on alterations associated with autism spectrum disorders. On the basis of analysis of publicly available microarray data, potential biomarkers of autism are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

The work was supported by the Slovak Research and Development Agency projects APVV-0253-10 and APVV-0254-11.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Vlarska 3, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Jan Bakos & Zuzana Bacova

  2. Department of Normal and Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Slovak Medical University, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Zuzana Bacova

  3. College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

    Stephen G. Grant

  4. College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

    Ana M. Castejon

  5. Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Physiology, Comenius University, Vlarska 3, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Jan Bakos & Daniela Ostatnikova

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  1. Jan Bakos
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Correspondence to Jan Bakos.

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Bakos, J., Bacova, Z., Grant, S.G. et al. Are Molecules Involved in Neuritogenesis and Axon Guidance Related to Autism Pathogenesis?. Neuromol Med 17, 297–304 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12017-015-8357-7

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