Targeting epigenetic enzymes for autism treatment

Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2024 Sep;45(9):764-767. doi: 10.1016/j.tips.2024.06.009. Epub 2024 Jul 20.

Abstract

Emerging preclinical autism research has shown the therapeutic promise of pharmacological inhibitors for epigenetic enzymes, such as histone deacetylases (HDAC), euchromatic histone methyltransferases (EHMT), and lysine-specific histone demethylase 1A (LSD1). These interventions restore gene expression, synaptic function, and behavioral performance in autism models, highlighting a new strategy for autism treatment.

Keywords: autism; epigenetics; histone modification; social deficits; synaptic.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autistic Disorder* / drug therapy
  • Autistic Disorder* / genetics
  • Epigenesis, Genetic*
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Histone Deacetylases / genetics
  • Histone Deacetylases / metabolism
  • Histone Demethylases* / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Histone Demethylases* / genetics
  • Histone Demethylases* / metabolism
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / genetics
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / metabolism
  • Humans

Substances

  • Histone Demethylases
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
  • Histone Deacetylases
  • KDM1A protein, human