Progress in molecular biology and translational science
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Prog Mol Biol Transl Sci · Jan 2020
ReviewIn vitro models for ASD-patient-derived iPSCs and cerebral organoids.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a set of pervasive neurodevelopmental disorders. The causation is multigenic in most cases, which makes it difficult to model the condition in vitro. ⋯ This chapter aims to give an overview of the iPSC technology for generating neural cells and cerebral organoids as models for neurodevelopment and how these models are utilized in the study of ASD. The combination of iPSC technology and the genetic modification tool CRISPR/Cas9 is described, and current limitations and future perspectives of iPSC technology is discussed.
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Various genetic and environmental factors have been suggested to cause autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). A variety of animal models of ASDs have been developed and used to investigate the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of ASDs. These animal models have contributed to clarifying that abnormalities in neuronal morphology and neurotransmission are responsible for the onset of ASDs. ⋯ In this chapter, we first introduce a list of commonly available animal models of ASDs and describe the validity of each model from the viewpoint of behaviors and neuroanatomy. We next detail the malfunction of microglia that has been reported in animal models of ASDs and discuss the roles of microglia in ASD pathogenesis. We will further propose possible therapeutic strategies to tackle ASDs by controlling microglial functions.