title: What Have Proteomic Studies Taught Us About Novel Drug Targets in Autism?
abstract: Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a heterogeneous group of conditions with complex behavioural phenotypes. Although ASDs show a high rate of heritability, genetic research alone has not provided a complete understanding of the underlying causes. Recent developments using imaging techniques and proteomic-based molecular profiling approaches have now begun to generate new insights into the underlying pathways affected in both the brain and the periphery in individuals with these conditions. Of potential high importance is the constant finding of gender-specific biomarker profiles in ASD patients. This suggests that there are either distinct adaptive mechanisms or different aetiological causes in male and female ASD patients. This chapter addresses the findings using these approaches with a view to identification of novel drug targets or new treatment strategies based on personalized medicine objectives. Eventually, this will lead to a better disease understanding of ASD at the physiological and molecular levels, which may facilitate novel drug discovery efforts in this challenging area of medicine.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuroproteomics, Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Rua Monteiro Lobato 255 F/01, Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, 13083-862, Campinas, Brazil. paulcguest@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Paul C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Guest
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuroproteomics, Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Rua Monteiro Lobato 255 F/01, Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, 13083-862, Campinas, Brazil.|UNICAMP's Neurobiology Center, Rua Monteiro Lobato 255, Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, 13083-862, Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Martins-de-Souza
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000188:drug therapy; D055808:Drug Discovery; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D059906:Neuroimaging; D057285:Precision Medicine; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods*; D035703:Therapies, Investigational
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; D015507:Drugs, Investigational
keywords: Autism; Biomarker; Drug target; Imaging; Personalized medicine; Proteomics