title: Impact of acamprosate on plasma amyloid-β precursor protein in youth: a pilot analysis in fragile X syndrome-associated and idiopathic autism spectrum disorder suggests a pharmacodynamic protein marker.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Understanding of the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remains limited. Brain overgrowth has been hypothesized to be associated with the development of ASD. A derivative of amyloid-β precursor protein (APP), secreted APPα (sAPPα), has neuroproliferative effects and has been shown to be elevated in the plasma of persons with ASD compared to control subjects. Reduction in sAPPα holds promise as a novel molecular target of treatment in ASD. Research into the neurochemistry of ASD has repeatedly implicated excessive glutamatergic and deficient GABAergic neurotransmission in the disorder. With this in mind, acamprosate, a novel modulator of glutamate and GABA function, has been studied in ASD. No data is available on the impact of glutamate or GABA modulation on sAPPα function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma APP derivative levels pre- and post-treatment with acamprosate were determined in two pilot studies involving youth with idiopathic and fragile X syndrome (FXS)-associated ASD. We additionally compared baseline APP derivative levels between youth with FXS-associated or idiopathic ASD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acamprosate use was associated with a significant reduction in plasma sAPP(total) and sAPPα levels but no change occurred in Aβ40 or Aβ42 levels in 15 youth with ASD (mean age: 11.1 years). Youth with FXS-associated ASD (n = 12) showed increased sAPPα processing compared to age-, gender- and IQ-match youth with idiopathic ASD (n = 11).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma APP derivative analysis holds promise as a potential biomarker for use in ASD targeted treatment. Reduction in sAPP (total) and sAPPα may be a novel pharmacodynamic property of acamprosate. Future study is required to address limitations of the current study to determine if baseline APP derivative analysis may predict subgroups of persons with idiopathic or FXS-associated ASD who may respond best to acamprosate or to potentially other modulators of glutamate and/or GABA neurotransmission.
authors.affiliation: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Craig A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Erickson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Balmiki
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Bryan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maloney
authors.affiliation: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Logan K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Wink
authors.affiliation: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bowers
authors.affiliation: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Tori L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.affiliation: Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: McDougle
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Deborah K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Sokol
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA. Electronic address: dlahiri@iupui.edu.
authors.forename: Debomoy K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Lahiri
mesh_terms: D000077443:Acamprosate; D000293:Adolescent; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005600:Fragile X Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013654:Taurine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: C545487:APP protein, human; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D013654:Taurine; D000077443:Acamprosate
keywords: Acamprosate; Amyloid precursor protein; Autism spectrum disorder; Biomarker; GABA; Glutamate