title: Developing Medications Targeting Glutamatergic Dysfunction in Autism: Progress to Date.
abstract: Pharmacologic treatments targeting specific molecular mechanisms relevant for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are beginning to emerge in early drug development. This article reviews the evidence for the disruption of glutamatergic neurotransmission in animal models of social deficits and summarizes key pre-clinical and clinical efforts in developing pharmacologic interventions based on modulation of glutamatergic systems in individuals with ASD. Understanding the pathobiology of the glutamatergic system has led to the development of new investigational treatments for individuals with ASD. Specific examples of medications that modulate the glutamatergic system in pre-clinical and clinical studies are described. Finally, we discuss the limitations of current strategies and future opportunities in developing medications targeting the glutamatergic system for treating individuals with ASD.
authors.affiliation: Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, 401 Quarry Road, Stanford, CA, 94305-5717, USA, lkfung@stanford.edu.
authors.forename: Lawrence K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.forename: Antonio Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Hardan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018683:Excitatory Amino Acid Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D018683:Excitatory Amino Acid Agents; D018698:Glutamic Acid