Insights into Genetic and Neural Circuit Mechanisms underlying Autism Spectrum Disorders

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About this Research Topic

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Background

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disabilities characterized by impaired social interaction or communication, stereotyped or repetitive behaviors, and associated symptoms, including irritability, anxiety, and aggression. ASDs are with high prevalence and also a complex etiology that is still largely unknown. High-risk genes may underly the development and regulate the neural circuits of ASDs. Dysfunction at the circuit level also contributes to behavioral deficits in ASDs. However, till today, identification of causative genetic variants leading to impairments of the neural circuits for ASDs is limited. Therefore, we need to dig into the mechanisms of different risk factors that cause ASDs, especially the high-risk gene factor. Dissecting the circuits that contribute to different behavioral abnormalities caused by genetic mutations would provide brain region-specific and circuit-specific targets for ASDs.

The current Research Topic aims to identify the genetic and neural circuits of ASDs. Firstly, large-scale microarray and next-generation sequencing enable researchers to identify high-risk genes to achieve this goal. Transgene lines and CRISPR-Cas9 technics targeting high-risk factors can generate novel ASDs animal models. Secondly, state-of-the-art techniques such as single-cell RNA sequencing, in vivo and in vitro electrophysiology, whole-brain tracing, optogenetics, and chemogenetics will provide cell type-specific transcriptome changes and disturbed pathways, as well as neuronal activity and synaptic changes at the cellular and circuit levels in ASDs that link diverse genes variants. Taken together, we hope this topic will provide a better understanding of the mechanisms arising from genetic mutations underlying ASDs and contribute to potential circuit-based precision therapies for ASDs.

We encourage psychiatrists, psychologists, neuroscientists, genetics experts, pediatricians, rehabilitation specialists, preventive medicine, and health care professionals to participate in this Research Topic to make an advance.
We welcome Original Research and/or Reviews that cover, but are not limited to, the following topics related to ASDs:
- Novel pathogenic genes and genetic variants causing ASD;
- Molecular mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of inherited ASD;
- Chromosome aberrations underlying ASD and/or neural circuit abnormalities;
- Genetic mutations underlying dysfunctional neural circuitry.

Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorders, Genetic Factors, Neural Circuit, Neural Mechanism

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