title: Beneficial Effects of Co-Ultramicronized Palmitoylethanolamide/Luteolin in a Mouse Model of Autism and in a Case Report of Autism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a condition defined by social communication deficits and repetitive restrictive behaviors. Association of the fatty acid amide palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) with the flavonoid luteolin displays neuroprotective and antiinflammatory actions in different models of central nervous system pathologies. We hypothesized that association of PEA with luteolin might have therapeutic utility in ASD, and we employed a well-recognized autism animal model, namely sodium valproate administration, to evaluate cognitive and motor deficits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two sets of experiments were conducted. In the first, we investigated the effect of association of ultramicronized PEA with luteolin, co-ultramicronized PEA-LUT® (co-ultraPEA-LUT®) in a murine model of autistic behaviors, while in the second, the effect of co-ultraPEA-LUT® in a patient affected by ASD was examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Co-ultraPEA-LUT® treatment ameliorated social and nonsocial behaviors in valproic acid-induced autistic mice and improved clinical picture with reduction in stereotypes in a 10-year-old male child.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that ASD symptomatology may be improved by agents documented to control activation of mast cells and microglia. Co-ultraPEA-LUT® might be a valid and safe therapy for the symptoms of ASD alone or in combination with other used drugs.
authors.affiliation: Presidio Ospedaliero S.Antonio Abate, via delle Naiadi, Trapani, Italy.
authors.forename: Bartolomeo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bertolino
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmacological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosalia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Crupi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmacological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Impellizzeri
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmacological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bruschetta
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmacological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Marika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cordaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmacological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosalba
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Siracusa
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmacological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmacological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.|Department of Pharmacological and Physiological Science, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cuzzocrea
mesh_terms: D000577:Amides; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D053818:Chymases / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000089622:Doublecortin Domain Proteins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D047311:Luteolin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D010169:Palmitic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053802:Tryptases / Q000378:metabolism; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016207:Cytokines; D000089622:Doublecortin Domain Proteins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D004983:Ethanolamines; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D010169:Palmitic Acids; D014635:Valproic Acid; C005958:palmidrol; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D053818:Chymases; D053802:Tryptases; D047311:Luteolin
keywords: Autism; Inflammation; Luteolin; Palmitoylethanolamide