FOXG1-dependent dysregulation of GABA/glutamate neuron differentiation in autism spectrum disorders

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a disorder of brain development believed, in most cases, to be of genetic origin. We use induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)-derived 3-dimensional neural cultures (organoids) in patients with ASD and macrocephaly to investigate neurodevelopmental alterations that cause this form of ASD. By using transcriptome analyses, we identified modules of co-expressed genes significantly upregulated in ASD patients compared to non-ASD first-degree family members. Overall design: Total RNA was prepared from terminal differentiation day 0, 11 and 31 of iPSCs-derived neural cultures from ASD patients and non-ASD first-degree family members. A total of 4 patients and 8 controls (unaffected family members) were analyzed in replicates (two to three iPSC clones per person).

48

Mariani J, Coppola G, Zhang P, Abyzov A, Provini L, Tomasini L, Amenduni M, Szekely A, Palejev D, Wilson M, Gerstein M, Grigorenko EL, Chawarska K, Pelphrey KA, Howe JR, Vaccarino FM