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Review
. 2021 Mar;48(3):2669-2686.
doi: 10.1007/s11033-021-06237-9. Epub 2021 Mar 1.

Deciphering the roles of glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) in the treatment of autism spectrum disorder and related syndromes

Mahdi Rizk #  1 , Zahraa Saker #  1 , Hayat Harati  1 , Youssef Fares  1   2 , Hisham F Bahmad #  3 , Sanaa Nabha #  4
Affiliations
Review

Deciphering the roles of glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) in the treatment of autism spectrum disorder and related syndromes

Mahdi Rizk et al. Mol Biol Rep. 2021 Mar.

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex and multifactorial neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by the presence of restricted interests and repetitive behaviors besides deficits in social communication. Syndromic ASD is a subset of ASD caused by underlying genetic disorders, most commonly Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) and Rett Syndrome (RTT). Various mutations and consequent malfunctions in core signaling pathways have been identified in ASD, including glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3). A growing body of evidence suggests a key role of GSK3 dysregulation in the pathogenesis of ASD and its related disorders. Here, we provide a synopsis of the implication of GSK3 in ASD, FXS, and RTT as a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of ASD.

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Fragile X syndrome; Glycogen synthase kinase 3; Rett syndrome.

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