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Credit: Autism Speaks
New York, N.Y. (March 14, 2013) – Autism Speaks, the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization, today announced a study supported by one of Autism Speaks' first Suzanne and Bob Wright Trailblazer Awards, presents a new theory that autism may result from chronic danger signaling by mitochondria, cell structures that supply our cells with energy. This study by Trailblazer researcher and mitochondrial medicine specialist Robert Naviaux, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of California, San Diego published in the journal PLOS-ONE supports a novel theory about the cause and potential treatment of autism. The theory is that a chronic "cell danger response" can interfere with brain development and function. Using a mouse model of autism, the researchers blocked the abnormal cell danger signals using a chemical compound. Doing so reversed the signs and symptoms of autism in the animal's brains and behavior.
In 2010, Autism Speaks awarded Dr. Naviaux one a Trailblazer award to test his theory that it might be possible to reverse autism by blocking chronic cell danger signaling. The Suzanne and Bob Wright Trailblazer Award program supports novel, "out of the box" research with the potential to transform the field of autism research.
"Breakthroughs in the development of new treatment approaches for autism are going emerge from innovative theories, and trailblazing research, like that of Naviaux's team," says Autism Speaks Vice President for Translational Research Robert Ring, Ph.D. "Although these findings still need to be expanded and confirmed before they make their way into clinical trials, this line of work emphasizes how Autism Speaks will leave no stone unturned in our search for ways to convert scientific innovation into applications that transform outcomes for individuals with autism."
Several years ago, Dr. Naviaux proposed that cell structures, called mitochondria, play a broad role in the development of autism. Mitochondria are best known for providing cells with energy. Dr. Naviaux looked beyond energy production to study the mitochondria's role in signaling when a cell is damaged or diseased. Under stress, cells release mitochondrial, or "purinergic," chemicals that normally remain inside the cell. When they leak outside a cell, these chemicals signal danger to surrounding cells.
"In essence, these signals warn other cells to harden their defenses," Dr. Naviaux explains. "This helps protect against cell-to-cell infection. However, it may also interfere with cell-to-cell communication."
Normally, healthy cells stop releasing these danger signals when an infection or other stress resolves. According to Dr. Naviaux's "cell danger response" theory, autism can result when a stress during early brain development triggers a chronic danger response. The stress that starts this chain of events can come from an environmental influence, a genetic problem or a combination of both, he proposes. The result is chronic brain inflammation and frayed connections between brain cells. "When the brain cells stop talking, so do children," he says.
Dr. Naviaux's team produced litters of mice that exhibited autism symptoms by mimicking a viral infection in their mothers during pregnancy. This "maternal immune activation mouse model" is well-known for producing mouse offspring with symptoms of autism and schizophrenia.
The researchers measured social behavior by giving the mice opportunities to spend time with either another mouse or a Lego block in adjacent wire chambers. They also tested motor coordination as the mice walked along a rotating rod. While female pups showed only mild impairments, the male pups showed a 50 percent reduction in socializing and a 28 percent reduction in motor coordination. The researchers then tested the male pups' response to treatment. When the mice were 6 weeks old (roughly adolescents), 84 received an injection of suramin, a chemical that blocks the mitochondria's extra-cellular signals. For comparison, another 84 mice received a dummy shot of saltwater. The suramin treatment restored socializing and motor coordination to normal levels. The researchers saw no such improvement in the mice injected with saltwater.
Later, the researchers examined the mice's brain tissue, looking for brain abnormalities associated with autism. These included abnormal cell connections (synapses) and high rates of cell death in an important class of neurons called Purkinje cells. They found elevated levels of all these abnormalities in the untreated mice. But they were not present in the mice treated with suramin.
In people, suramin can be used safely only for short periods, because it has potentially serious side effects. "Our hope was to test this compound first in mice, then in a small clinical trial that will use just a single dose to determine whether this class of drugs is a good direction for developing safe and effective treatments," Dr. Naviaux says.
"Autism Speaks is not endorsing the use of suramin at this time for treatment of ASD," added Dr. Ring. "This study is an interesting and important first step in the translational process from bench to bed side, seeking potential treatments to address the core symptoms of autism."
The Autism Speaks website provides important guidance to families who are considering any medications for their child or loved one with ASD. The free Autism Speaks Medication Decision Aid supports families, working with their medical provider, in making decisions on what, if any, medications they might use in treating their loved one who has ASD. This tool kit, developed by the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network and AIR/P was supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Research Program, and can be downloaded for free from the Autism Speaks website. Further, Autism Speaks provides guidance to families in making an informed decision in collaboration with their medical practitioner when considering whether to participate in a clinical trial. A Participant's Guide to Autism Drug Research can also be downloaded for free from the Autism Speaks website.
The Trailblazer grant supporting this work by Dr. Naviaux was made possible by generous gifts from Amy and Stuart Savitz and Nancy and James Molesworth.
About Autism
Autism is a general term used to describe a group of complex developmental brain disorders – autism spectrum disorders – caused by a combination of genes and environmental influences. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by communication difficulties, social and behavioral challenges, as well as repetitive behaviors. An estimated one in 88 children in the U.S. is on the autism spectrum – a 78 percent increase in six years that is only partly explained by improved diagnosis.
About Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks is the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization. It is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism. Mr. Wright is the former vice chairman of General Electric and chief executive officer of NBC and NBC Universal. Since its inception, Autism Speaks has committed more than $195 million to research and developing innovative resources for families. Each year Walk Now for Autism Speaks events are held in more than 100 cities across North America. On the global front, Autism Speaks has established partnerships and related activities in more than 40 countries on five continents to foster international research, services and awareness. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit AutismSpeaks.org.
Journal
PLoS ONE