title: Is retinoic acid-related orphan receptor-alpha (RORA) a target for gene-environment interactions contributing to autism?
abstract: It is becoming increasingly clear that gene-environment interactions are risk factors for autism. However, there is limited information regarding the susceptibility of specific autism candidate genes to dysregulation by environmental factors, and even less information on the types of environmental agents that may lead to increased risk for autism. Based on our published studies, I propose that the demonstrated responsiveness of RORA to sex hormones makes it a prime target for disruption by endocrine disrupting compounds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2300 Eye St., NW, Washington, DC 20037, USA. Electronic address: valhu@gwu.edu.
authors.forename: Valerie W
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D057094:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 1 / Q000172:deficiency / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D057094:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 1; C539738:RORA protein, human; C539739:Rora protein, mouse