California's Stem Cell Agency
California Institute for regenerative medicine
The State stem cell agency

Stem cells and modeling of autism spectrum disorders.

Journal: 
Exp Neurol
Publication Year: 
2012
Authors: 
Beatriz C G Freitas
Cleber A Trujillo
Cassiano Carromeu
Marianna Yusupova
Roberto Herai
Alysson R Muotri
PubMed link: 
Read the abstract
Funding Grants: 
Developing a drug-screening system for Autism Spectrum Disorders using human neurons
Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Training Program
Public Summary: 
Human neurons, generated from reprogrammed somatic cells isolated from live patients, bring a new perspective on the understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The new technology can nicely complement other models for basic research and the development of therapeutic compounds aiming to revert or ameliorate the condition. Here, we discuss recent advances on the use of stem cells and other models to study ASDs, as well as their limitations, implications and future perspectives.
Scientific Abstract: 
Human neurons, generated from reprogrammed somatic cells isolated from live patients, bring a new perspective on the understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The new technology can nicely complement other models for basic research and the development of therapeutic compounds aiming to revert or ameliorate the condition. Here, we discuss recent advances on the use of stem cells and other models to study ASDs, as well as their limitations, implications and future perspectives.