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Strategies for Assessing Autistic-Like Behaviors in Mice
Published on: September 20, 2024
The role of PTEN signaling in synaptic function: Implications in autism spectrum disorder
Gabriela Spina Nagy1, Elisa Mitiko Kawamoto1, Jessika Cristina Bridi1
1Laboratory of Molecular and Functional Neurobiology, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Abstract:
Phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) regulates several cellular processes including survival, proliferation, and metabolism. In the brain, PTEN is a key modulator of synaptic function, and is involved in regulating synaptogenesis, connectivity, and synaptic plasticity. Herein we discuss how alterations in PTEN can disturb these mechanisms, thus compromising normal synaptic function and consequently contributing to behavioral and cognitive phenotypes observed in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). As the role of PTEN in synaptic function is linked to ASD, a deeper understanding of this interaction will shed light on the pathological mechanisms involved in ASD, contributing to the development of new therapies.
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