How to increase Oxytocin (OT) effects in the autistic brain? OT nasal spray, L. reuteri DSM 17938, Magnesium, Estradiol, Nicotinamide riboside …

 Struggle to make friends? Consider Oxytocin

Today’s post was going to be about FMT super-donors, but instead we have a post about new insights into using oxytocin to treat autism.  From personal experience I can say that you really can target oxytocin receptors to affect mood/behavior; I have no personal experience of FMT (fecal microbiota transplants), but thousands of people use it for many conditions.  The FMT post will be next.

Oxytocin and vasopressin are two hormones, made in the hypothalamus, that are established targets for autism treatment. They are released into the bloodstream where they carry out their best-known functions, but they are also released from the hypothalamus directly into the brain where these hormones have entirely different functions.

Both oxytocin and vasopressin can be given as nasal sprays to enter the central nervous system (CNS) rather than just the blood stream.  This means you get the brain effects of the hormone, also known as the “central effects”.

As was discussed previously in this blog and is highlighted more recently in the article below, you can use certain bacteria in the gut to signal to the hypothalamus to produce more oxytocin.  This is really clever and it works in humans, not just research animals.  It also has the advantage of producing a more continuous effect than is found using the intranasal method to deliver oxytocin. 

When you sever the vagus nerve, the bacteria in the gut continues to produce the required chemicals, but the signal to the brain has been lost. The hypothalamus no longer produces increased oxytocin and so the behavioral/mood effect is lost. This has been proven in the research.

Gut microbes may treat social difficulties in autism mice

In science speak, “the results suggest that a peptide or metabolite produced by bacteria may modulate host oxytocin secretion for potential public or personalized health goals”.  It also appears that oxytocin improves wound healing. So perhaps old people with leg ulcers, which never seem to get better, might benefit from a daily dose of L. reuteri DSM 17938, it also might make them feel better due to those central effects.

Oxytocin in the brain acts via oxytocin receptors

As we learned years ago in this blog, you can increase the effect (turn up the volume) of receptors using a PAM (positive allosteric modulator).  Interestingly, magnesium is a PAM of the oxytocin receptor (OTR).  Many people with autism are supplementing magnesium, perhaps those using intranasal oxytocin should join them. 

A very recent paper has investigated in detail how oxytocin receptors function.

Crystal structure of the human oxytocin receptor

The peptide hormone oxytocin modulates socioemotional behavior and sexual reproduction via the centrally expressed oxytocin receptor (OTR) across several species. Here, we report the crystal structure of human OTR in complex with retosiban, a nonpeptidic antagonist developed as an oral drug for the prevention of preterm labor. Our structure reveals insights into the detailed interactions between the G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR) and an OTR-selective antagonist. The observation of an extrahelical cholesterol molecule, binding in an unexpected location between helices IV and V, provides a structural rationale for its allosteric effect and critical influence on OTR function. Furthermore, our structure in combination with experimental data allows the identification of a conserved neurohypophyseal receptor-specific coordination site for Mg2+ that acts as potent, positive allosteric modulator for agonist binding. Together, these results further our molecular understanding of the oxytocin/vasopressin receptor family and will facilitate structure-guided development of new therapeutics. 

Magnesium and mood disorders: systematic review and meta-analysis

Another consequence of ERβ under-expression in autism

Also interesting to those following autism research, is the role of ERβ (estrogen receptor beta).  It is well known that in the brains of those with autism, there is a lack of ERβ.  A lack of ERβ is likely to lead to lower oxytocin in the brain and CSF (spinal fluid).  In many types of autism, we know that the level of oxytocin in CSF is reduced.

If you activate ERβ you both increase expression of oxytocin receptor (OTR) and also increase the level of oxytocin measured in the CSF.  You can activate ERβ with estrogens, like estradiol or even phytoestrogens like soy.  The ideal therapy to use would be DHED.

https://epiphanyasd.blogspot.com/2018/02/dhed-delivering-estradiol-only-to-brain.html

The cheap diuretic spironolactone may very well indirectly increase the level of oxytocin in CSF.

Oxytocin and Estrogen Receptor β in the Brain: An Overview

Oxytocin (OT) is a neuropeptide synthesized primarily by neurons of the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus. These neurons have axons that project into the posterior pituitary and release OT into the bloodstream to promote labor and lactation; however, OT neurons also project to other brain areas where it plays a role in numerous brain functions. OT binds to the widely expressed OT receptor (OTR), and, in doing so, it regulates homeostatic processes, social recognition, and fear conditioning. In addition to these functions, OT decreases neuroendocrine stress signaling and anxiety-related and depression-like behaviors. Steroid hormones differentially modulate stress responses and alter OTR expression. In particular, estrogen receptor β activation has been found to both reduce anxiety-related behaviors and increase OT peptide transcription, suggesting a role for OT in this estrogen receptor β-mediated anxiolytic effect. Further research is needed to identify modulators of OT signaling and the pathways utilized and to elucidate molecular mechanisms controlling OT expression to allow better therapeutic manipulations of this system in patient populations.

NAD and Nicotinamide Riboside to boost Oxytocin

Today we see that recent research from Japan shows that in those people with autism who have reduced NAD, they may well be able to improve behavior/mood by increasing the level of their oxytocin using Nicotinamide Riboside (NR).

Nicotinamide riboside (NR) is a special form of vitamin B3, sold as an expensive supplement.  The FDA say it is safe for use in humans.

Nicotinamide riboside supplementation corrects deficits in oxytocin, sociability and anxiety of CD157 mutants in a mouse model of autism spectrum disorder

Oxytocin (OT) is a critical molecule for social recognition and memory that mediates social and emotional behaviours. In addition, OT acts as an anxiolytic factor and is released during stress. Based on the activity of CD38 as an enzyme that produces the calcium-mobilizing second messenger cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR), CD157, a sister protein of CD38, has been considered a candidate mediator for the production and release of OT and its social engagement and anti-anxiety functions. However, the limited expression of CD157 in the adult mouse brain undermined confidence that CD157 is an authentic and/or actionable molecular participant in OT-dependent social behaviour. Here, we show that CD157 knockout mice have low levels of circulating OT in cerebrospinal fluid, which can be corrected by the oral administration of nicotinamide riboside, a recently discovered vitamin precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is the substrate for the CD157- and CD38-dependent production of cADPR. Nicotinamide riboside corrects social deficits and fearful and anxiety-like behaviours in CD157 knockout males. These results suggest that elevating NAD levels with nicotinamide riboside may allow animals with cADPR- and OT-forming deficits to overcome these deficits and function more normally.

NR elevates brain NAD⁺ and cerebrospinal OT

Social preference deficit and anxiety of CD157KO males are best corrected at a relatively low dose of NR

The results demonstrated that the daily oral administration of NR rescued the social behavioural impairments observed in male CD157KO mice. NR had essentially no effects on social behaviour in wild-type male mice. The beneficial effects of NR appear to depend on restoration of CSF OT levels because the NR-induced OT elevation was only detected in CD157KO mice, which have a CSF OT deficit.

In the course of identifying a nutritional intervention for CD157KO mice, we reproduced the anxiety-like and social-avoidance-like deficits reported previously. Reproducibly lower levels of CSF OT in male CD157KO mice make these mice an attractive model of autism, anxiety disorder, or social avoidance in neurodegenerative diseases. Significantly, this model responds to both OT and NR as a treatment.

The challenge of polygenic diseases of incomplete penetrance is that they are difficult to understand mechanistically. Multiple genetic and environmental (biochemical) factors may converge to dysregulate pathways that are altered in common conditions such as ASD. We note that one potentially hopeful point when studying polygenetic diseases is that brain systems are redundant, and thus, it may be possible to increase normal functions that are only partially encoded by genetically damaged circuitry.

NAD⁺ is consumed by CD38 in formation of cyclic ADP-ribose. It then participates in OT release in the hypothalamus. In our study, ADP-ribosyl cyclase activity was maintained at a similar range as that in wild-type animals (data not shown). A recent study suggested that NR supplementation did not change CD38 expression. However, in vitro studies have shown that NAD⁺ applied to the mouse hypothalamus leads to OT release. It is reasonable to assume that an elevation in NAD⁺ levels by NR in the hypothalamus is responsible for repair of the OT release.

Future work will probe CD38 dependence and the cell-type dependence of the beneficial effects of NR on CD157KO behaviour, the potential benefits of NR in other ASD models, and the potential of NR to become a safe nutritional intervention, in addition to OT, for at least some types of ASD in human populations.

NAD+ is reduced in older people

There is a lot of research into combating the effects of aging.  It is agreed that the older you get, the less NAD+ you have and so research has looked at numerous ways to raise it.

The CD157KO mice model of autism does feature reduced NAD+, but nobody knows how common reduced NAD+ is in autism.

If you have low levels of NAD+ there will be negative consequences.

I think you can consider NAD+ depletion in a similar way to oxidative stress, both are inevitable and damaging features of aging.

Most healthy younger people are likely wasting their time and money worrying about oxidative stress and NAD+.  These are the people with “detox” diets and juices.

However, most old people and some young people with autism really stand to benefit from correcting oxidative stress and any reduced NAD+.

  

Therapeutic potential of NAD-boosting molecules: the in vivo evidence

Hallmarks of NAD homeostasis

NAD⁺ is not merely a redox co-factor, it is also a key signaling molecule that controls cell function and survival in response to environmental changes such as nutrient intake and cellular damage. Fluctuations in NAD impact mitochondrial function and metabolism, redox reactions, circadian rhythm, immune response and inflammation, DNA repair, cell division, protein-protein signaling, chromatin and epigenetics.

There are many ways to boost NAD+.

Classes of NAD+ boosting molecules and known effects in humans

NAD+ Precursors              

Niacin/ nicotinic acid (NA), Nicotinamide riboside (NR) Nicotinamide (NAM) etc.

CD38 Inhibitors                 

Flavonoids (Quercetin, Luteolin, Apigenin, fisetin, rutin and naringin)             

Luteolinidin.  Kuromanin/ Chrysanthemin, an anthocyanin (food pigment)    

PARP Inhibitors    

BGB-290, Olaparib, Rucaparib, Veliparib, CEP-9722, E7016, Talazoparib, Iniparib, Niraparib, PJ34, DPQ, 3-aminobenzamide

                       

SARM Inhibitors

XAV939                    

NAMPT Activators

P7C3 

Conclusion

Some readers of this blog do give intranasal oxytocin as a therapy.  There have been numerous studies on children with autism, some discussed in earlier posts.  Oxytocin needs to be kept chilled, not to lose its potency.

Eleven previous posts in this blog refer to Oxytocin.

https://epiphanyasd.blogspot.com/search/label/Oxytocin

As to whether stimulating oxytocin receptors is going to be worthwhile in your case of autism, you will just have to try it and see.

I found that the Biogaia Protectis probiotic (L. reuteri DSM 17938) had very clear effects, which were very much hallmark effects of oxytocin.  This is easy and inexpensive to try.

Some readers of this blog do use Nicotinamide Riboside (NR), which we saw today can increase oxytocin by increasing NAD+.

There are very many reasons why you do not want to be lacking in NAD+, other than oxytocin, but if you already have plenty NAD+ you will unlikely see a benefit from yet more.

Magnesium is a very common autism supplement; it is often given with vitamin B6; both can be used to treat stress.

Superiority of magnesium and vitamin B6 over magnesium alone on severe stress in healthy adults with low magnesemia: A randomized, single-blind clinical trial

Ketamine, Memantine, D-Cycloserin, Magnesium, Fenobam and yet more as Glutamatergic Modulators in Autism (and Fragile X)

 

Much of this blog to date has been connected with aspects related to the neurotransmitter GABA.  It did get rather complicated, but at least for me, it has been highly rewarding. I have identified treatable dysfunctions in Monty, aged 10 with ASD, using Bumetanide and now Clonazepam.

It is also clear that a group of people with autism also benefit from treatment with R-baclofen, a potent GABA_B receptor agonist. R-baclofen/Arbaclofen and Arbaclofen Placarbil are not commercially available.  The commercially available drug Baclofen contains R-Baclofen and another substance that, in-effect, works to oppose it and so may be much less effective.

Based on the successful results of this investigation into GABA-related interventions, it would therefore make sense to look in detail at Glutamate, the other neurotransmitter that appears to be dysfunctional in many types of autism.

As with GABA dysfunctions, there are already are some existing treatments for glutamate dysfunctions.

While many researchers have concluded that glutamate is implicated in autism, some think, in effect, there is too much and some think there is too little.  Since we have learnt that in fact within “autism” are many discrete diseases, both groups of researchers might be right. 

In other types of neurological disorders glutamatergic modulators are an emerging therapy and there are many ongoing clinical trials.  Off-label, some of these therapies have been used for decades.  In autism there have been some trials over the years, but as seems to be often the case, they are not followed up to a final undisputed conclusion.  This may be about to change.

Yet again, the mineral Magnesium appears and there is yet another possible explanation for its apparent positive impact, in some cases of autism. 

I imagine that under the umbrella diagnosis of autism, there are those who have a GABA dysfunction and there are those that have a Glutamate dysfunction.  Just to complicate matters, if there is Serotonin dysfunction, this will affect both GABA and Glutamate.  So everything is inter-related and nothing is simple. Fortunately, in medicine, trial and error is a long trusted technique and “stumbled upon” is still a satisfactory explanation; we do not need to understand things 100%.

First we have to look at the terminology and in doing so we stumble upon a novel hypothesis as to what caused autism in the first place, which occurred to me today, but back in 2007 at the University of Mississippi.

Glutamate

Glutamate is the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter. Glutamate is involved in cognitive functions like learning and memory in the brain.  Too much glutamate can be extremely bad for you and research shows it leads to neuronal death, mental retardation and indeed autism. 

So called Glutamate transporters remove glutamate from the extracellular space. In brain injury or disease, they can work in reverse, and excess glutamate can accumulate outside cells. This process causes calcium ions to enter cells via NMDA receptor channels, leading to neuronal damage and eventual cell death;  this is called excitotoxicity.



So it is plausible that the root cause of the autism is actually a dysfunction of one of the glumate transporters.  The calcium ions are just the messenger.


There are 4 types of glutamate transporter. When there is a dysfunction the following is known to happen:-

·        Over activity of glutamate transporters may result in inadequate synaptic glutamate and may be involved in schizophrenia and other mental illnesses

·        During injury processes such as ischemia and traumatic brain injury, the action of glutamate transporters may fail, leading to toxic buildup of glutamate. 

·        Loss of the Na⁺-dependent glutamate transporter EAAT2 is suspected to be associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease

Excessive glumate release

Excitotoxicity due to excessive glutamate release and impaired uptake occurs as part of the ischemic cascade and is associated with stroke, autism, some forms of intellectual disability, and diseases like Alzheimer's disease.

Epilepsy and Calcium Channels

Glutamic acid has been implicated in epileptic seizures. Microinjection of glutamic acid into neurons produces spontaneous depolarisations around one second apart, and this firing pattern is similar to what is known as paroxysmal depolarizing shift in epileptic attacks. This change in the resting membrane potential at seizure foci could cause spontaneous opening of voltage-activated calcium channels, leading to glutamic acid release and further depolarization

Too much or too little Glutamate Activity?

Studies propose both hyper-and hypoglutamatergic ideologies for autism.

Hypothesis: Is infantile autism a hypoglutamatergic disorder? Relevance of glutamate – serotonin interactions for pharmacotherapy

The hyperglutamatergic hypothesis of autism

You may be thinking that somebody is clearly wrong here, but it is not so simple.  We will see later, when we get to the clever people at MIT, that in fact both views may be correct; in some people their autism is improved by inhibiting the specific receptor (mGluR5) and in other people by exciting the same receptor.

GABA & GAD

Glutamate also serves as the precursor for the synthesis of the inhibitory gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in GABA-ergic neurons. This reaction is catalyzed by glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), which is most abundant in the cerebellum and pancreas.

GAD is interesting in itself.  There are two types, GAD₆₇ and GAD₆₅
It appears that anti-GAD antibodies are the trigger that leads to diabetes.  Since the pancreas has abundant GAD, a direct immunological destruction occurs in the pancreas and the patients will have developed diabetes.

Diabetes

Both GAD₆₇ and GAD₆₅ are targets of autoantibodies in people who later develop type 1 diabetes or latent autoimmune diabetes. Injections with GAD₆₅ has been shown to preserve some insulin production for 30 months in humans with type 1 diabetes

Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

Substantial dysregulation of GAD mRNA expression, coupled with down regulation of reelin, is observed in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The most pronounced down regulation of GAD67 was found in hippocampal stratum oriens layer in both disorders.

Parkinson disease

The bilateral delivery of GAD by an adeno-associated viral vector into the subthalamic nucleus of patients between 30 and 75 years of age with advanced, progressive, levodopa-responsive Parkinson disease resulted in significant improvement over baseline during the course of a six-month study

Cerebellar disorders

Intracerebellar administration of GAD autoantibodies to animals increase the excitability of motoneurons and impairs the production of nitric oxide (NO), a molecule involved in learning. Epitope recognition contributes to cerebellar involvement

Stiff Person Syndrome

Anti-GAD antibodies are associated with Stiff-person syndrome but their causal role is not yet established.

We have seen before that comorbidities of autism can point us in the right direction and also that many mental health / neurological disorders are overlapping.
So is not a surprise that a GAD dysfunction also exists in autism:-

Decreased GAD67 mRNA levels incerebellar Purkinje cells in autism: pathophysiological implications

Decreased GAD65 mRNA levels inselect subpopulations of neurons in the cerebellar dentate nuclei in autism: anin situ hybridization study.

“This suggests a disturbance in the intrinsic cerebellar circuitry in the autism group potentially interfering with the synchronous firing of inferior olivary neurons, and the timing of Purkinje cell firing and inputs to the dentate nuclei. Disturbances in critical neural substrates within these key circuits could disrupt afferents to motor and/or cognitive cerebral association areas in the autistic brain likely contributing to the marked behavioral consequences characteristic of autism.

Both GAD isoforms have been shown to be affected in a variety of psychiatric and developmental disorders. GAD67 has been implicated in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression disorder, and autism.

In animal studies, GAD65 is strongly implicated in anxiety.

Clinical research indicates that discrete cerebellar lesions, in otherwise healthy children, cause behavioral and/or cognitive impairments. In autism, however, cerebellar pathology is likely acquired during critical developmental period(s) when the brain is capable of constructing alternate innervation patterns. It is thus possible that there is a “miswiring” of key circuits in the autistic cerebellum with a developmental basis persisting into adulthood”

We see again a form of self-destruction.  With arthritis the body destroys its joints and with diabetes, the pancreas is (partially) destroyed.

From the research it would appear that low levels of GAD67 and GAD65 played a critical role in the process that initiated the brain damage that led to autism.  Perhaps the low levels are the result of GAD antibodies.

GAD antibodies test as a predictor

There is a widely available of a GAD antibodies test.  Because diabetes is so common, it is also well researched.

GAD Antibody Positivity Predicts Type 2 Diabetes in an Adult Population

So now back to autism.  Now, I am thinking that maybe pregnant mothers might have high levels of GAD antibodies and this might be passed on to the developing fetus, potentially causing brain damage (autism) or perhaps diabetes later in life.  Well, somebody has already come to the same conclusion.

A pathogenetic model of autism involving Purkinje cell loss through anti-GAD antibodies

“Conclusions

Studies of serum GAD-Abs in autism are warranted but have not been done so far. Positive findings would stimulate the development of specific prenatal diagnostic markers and therapeutics that may involve maternal administration of immunosuppressants to prevent the development of

autism or intravenous immunoglobulins therapy in children with emerging autistic symptoms.”

This again points towards immunomodulation as a therapy, this time for the mother.  Such treatment, in mothers with high GAD-Abs (GAB antibodies) might lead to a reduction is in cases of autism and indeed diabetes (type 1).

In the case of children and adults with autism, treatment with GAD65 or GAD67 might be effective, or it might just be too late to do any good.  This would be worthy of study.

Glutamate receptors

Glutamate receptors are responsible for the glutamate-mediated excitation of neural cells, and are important for neural communication, memory formation, learning, and regulation.
Glutamate receptors are implicated in a number of neurological conditions. Their central role in excitotoxicity and prevalence in the central nervous system has been linked or speculated to be linked to many neurodegenerative diseases, and several other conditions have been further linked to glutamate receptor gene mutations.

There are four types of glumate receptors.

The first three types are Ionotropic, and by definition, are ligand-gated nonselective cation channels that allow the flow of K⁺, Na⁺ and sometimes Ca²⁺ in response to glutamate binding.  Upon binding, the agonist will stimulate direct action of the central pore of the receptor, an ion channel, allowing ion flow and causing excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC). This current is depolarizing and, if enough glutamate receptors are activated, may trigger an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron

NMDA receptor

Kainate receptor

AMPA receptor
 
The fourth type is:_
 

metabotropicglutamate receptors or mGluRs

These receptors are involved in Ca²⁺  and K⁺  ion channels and varying the concentration of Ca²⁺  and K⁺  

Glutamate binding to the extracellular region of an mGluR causes G proteins bound to the intracellular region to be phosphorylated, affecting multiple biochemical pathways and ion channels in the cell. Because of this, mGluRs can both increase or decrease the exitability of the postsynaptic cell, thereby causing a wide range of physiological effects.

 

Selected Conditions associated with Glumate Receptors (source Wikipedia)

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

In 2006 the glutamate receptor subunit gene GRIN2B (responsible for key functions in memory and learning) was associated with ADHD.  This followed earlier studies showing a link between glutamate modulation and hyperactivity.

Further mutations to four different metabotropic glutamate receptor genes were identified in a study of 1013 paediatric ADHD patients compared to 4105 non-ADHD controls, replicated in a subsequent study of 2500 more patients. Deletions and duplications affected GRM1, GRM5, GRM7 and GRM8. The study concluded that "CNVs affecting metabotropic glutamate receptor genes were enriched across all cohorts (P = 2.1 × 10−9)", "over 200 genes interacting with glutamate receptors were collectively affected by CNVs", "major hubs of the (affected genes') network include TNIK50, GNAQ51, and CALM", and "the fact that children with ADHD are more likely to have alterations in these genes reinforces previous evidence that the GRM pathway is important in ADHD".


In 2012 UPenn and MIT teams have independently converged on mGluRs as players in ADHD and autism. The findings suggest agonizing mGluRs in patients with ADHD or certain forms of autism and antagonizing the targets in other forms of autism

 

Although the precise molecular basis of the interaction remains to be determined, the data show unambiguously that mGluR5 and FMRP act as an opponent pair in several functional contexts, and support the theory that many CNS symptoms in fragile X are accounted for by unbalanced activation of Gp1 mGluRs. These findings have major therapeutic implications for fragile X syndrome and autism.

Autism

The etiology of autism may include excessive glutaminergic mechanisms.
A link between glutamate receptors and autism was also identified via the structural protein ProSAP1/SHANK2 and potentially ProSAP2/SHANK3. The study authors concluded that the study "illustrates the significant role glutamatergic systems play in autism" and "By comparing the data on ProSAP1/Shank2^−/− mutants with ProSAP2/Shank3αβ^−/− mice, we show that different abnormalities in synaptic glutamate receptor expression can cause alterations in social interactions and communication. Accordingly, we propose that appropriate therapies for autism spectrum disorders are to be carefully matched to the underlying synaptopathic phenotype.

Seizures

Glutamate receptors have been discovered to have a role in the onset of epilepsy. NMDA and metabotropic types have been found to induce epileptic convulsions. Using rodent models, labs have found that the introduction of antagonists to these glutamate receptors helps counteract the epileptic symptoms.  Since glutamate is a ligand for ligand-gated ion channels, the binding of this neurotransmitter will open gates and increase sodium and calcium conductance. These ions play an integral part in the causes of seizures. Group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlu1 and mGlu5) are the primary cause of seizing, so applying an antagonist to these receptors helps in preventing convulsions.

 Current and Future interventions

 

The possible interventions that follow from what we have learnt would appear to be:-

1.     Targeting NMDA glutamate receptor function

2.     Targeting mGluRs (metabotropic glutamate receptors)

3.     Targeting glutamate transporters

4.     GAD therapy

There would seem to be four possible areas of intervention.  The first one is to target the NMDA glutamate receptors using existing drugs and other three are cleverer, but only possible using experimental drugs. 

Very few pharmacological tools are currently available to investigate glumate transporter (EAAT) function and to then consider these transporters  as therapeutic targets, but even that is beginning to change.  Here is a Glutamate Transporter Inhibitor:-

 

Neuroprotective Effects of the Novel Glutamate TransporterInhibitor (_)-3-Hydroxy-4,5,6,6a-tetrahydro-3aH-pyrrolo[3,4-d]-isoxazole-4-carboxylicAcid, Which Preferentially Inhibits Reverse Transport (Glutamate Release)Compared with Glutamate Reuptake

 

I do like the idea of targeting GAD. It is possible to do it and the idea is being developed by a company called Neurologix as a treatment for Parkinson’s Disease (PD).  There are also working on epilepsy treatment.

 

"Neurologix's gene therapy approach to PD aims to reset the overactive brain cells to inhibit electrical activity and return brain network activity to more normal levels. The strategy involves restoring GABA and thus improving the patient's motor control by using an AAV vector (a disabled, non-pathogenic virus) to deliver the GAD gene back into the STN (subthalamic nucleus). Increasing GAD causes more GABA to be synthesized, thus helping to calm the STN over-activity."

 

They are calling it gene therapy for PD; I would call it GAD therapy.  I think GAD therapy might well be effective in some types of autism.

 

mGluRs

 

Targeting mGluRs is very much associated with a researcher called Mark Bear at MIT.  We came across him earlier in this blog, since he is also the man behind Arbaclofen, at Seaside Therapeutics.

 

This research is very recent and is linked to Fragile X.  Here is a PhD thesis written in 2013 by one of Mark Bear’s students, which seems to sum things up.

 

Contributions of metabotropic glutamate receptors to the Pathophysiology of Autism

 

If you can follow my blog, you can definitely follow his thesis.  In effect, what he is saying is that errors in synaptic protein synthesis are behind several types of autism and that these errors can be corrected using either positive or negative stimulators of the receptor mGluR5.  It is clear that at Bear Lab, they view all autisms as part of a family, rather than discrete disorders.

 

 

This would imply that positive allosteric modulators and negative allosteric modulators of MGluR5 are potentially effective autism treatments.  Another name would be MGluR5 agonist/antagonist.  Such drugs are already under study in both autism and other conditions.  Here are two examples.

 

Potentiating mGluR5 function witha positive allosteric modulator enhances adaptive learning.

 

Safety, Tolerability and Anti-Dyskinetic Efficacy of Dipraglurant, a Novel mGluR5 Negative Allosteric Modulator  in Parkinson's Disease Patients with Levodopa-Induced Dyskinesia

 

Seaside Therapeutics, Roche and Novartis have each developed therapeutic compounds targeting the mGluR5 pathway.


Roche is developing RG7090, an inhibitor of mGluR5 that is currently in clinical trials. CTEP is a mouse version of RG7090.  One dose of CTEP, which can be taken orally, deactivates most mGLuR5 receptors in the brain for about 48 hours.

A single dose of CTEP is enough to reverse the same features of fragile X syndrome — such as an overproduction of proteins in the brain and susceptibility to seizures — as those treated by previous mGLuR5 inhibitors. It also corrects a process that allows neurons to change the strength of their connections in response to learning.

It took four weeks of continued treatment to see improvements in the behavioral features of the syndrome, including sensory sensitivities and problems with learning and memory.

 

Fenobam

 

Fenobam is an existing inhibitor of mGluR5, developed in the 1970s.  It was trialed in Fragile X in 2009 with good results using just a single dose.

 

A pilot open label, single dose trial of fenobam in adults with fragile X syndrome

 

“In summary, this trial did not find major safety concerns to a single administration of fenobam in FXS, and suggested that clinical improvements in behaviour and PPI may be seen even after a single dose. This would indicate that placebo controlled trials of fenobam and other mGluR5 antagonists involving longer term treatment of individuals with FXS should be considered to investigate whether rescue of the FXS phenotype observed in animal models can be extended to humans.”

Fenobam is being trialed byWashington University, but not for autism.

 

Current interventions

 

The current interventions are mainly NDMA receptor antagonists and are based on that trusted medical approach called trial and error, rather than the Bear Lab approach .  The drugs are:-

·        Ketamine

·        Memantine,

·        D-Cycloserine

·        Magnesium

·        Fenobam (mGluR5 inhibitor – see above, not FDA approved)

 

Chemicals that deactivate the NMDA receptor are called antagonists. NMDAR antagonists fall into four categories: 

1. Competitive antagonists, which bind to and block the binding site of the neurotransmitter glutamate
2. noncompetitive antagonists, which inhibit NMDARs by binding to allosteric sites
3. Uncompetitive antagonists, which block the ion channel by binding to a site within it
4. glycine antagonists, which bind to and block the glycine site

Ketamine is a non-competitive antagonist.  It has recently been in the headlines for having a remarkable effect in some cases of depression.

In large doses it is used as an anaesthetic particularly in children and pet animals.  It is also used as a recreational drug “Special K”, which is why it is a controlled substance.

In small doses the intra-nasal route is favoured.  In effect the vial of ketamine normally administered by injection is diluted with a saline solution and put in a standard metered dose nasal spray.  It is also possible to make eye drops the same way.  The nasal/eye route is effective since the drug can enter the bloodstream without the need for an injection or a very ineffective oral tablet.

A study is underway in Cincinnati to test intranasal ketamine on adults with autism.

Ketamine Use in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Dr. Logan Wink, Cincinnati Children's Hospital

Start Date: 11/2013

In a human clinical trial with 24 adults with Autism, researchers at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital will conduct a pilot double-blind placebo controlled study of intranasal ketamine in adults with ASD using novel quantitative outcome measures of social and communication impairment.

Ketamine has a unique drug profile clearly differentiated from other glutamatergic modulators (drugs that support the glutamate receptors) studied in ASD to date. This profile, coupled with ketamine’s long safety track record and novel intranasal (IN) delivery system, make ketamine worthy of drug investigation for treatment of the core features of ASD. As a generically available inexpensive drug, ketamine holds significant promise to widely treat the core social and communication impairments that are the hallmark of ASD. The results of this study, if positive, would support the use of a drug with a demonstrated safety profile that is cost-effective to use.

If this pilot project demonstrates efficacy and tolerability of IN ketamine, the next steps will include the following. 1) Design and obtain funding for a large phase II placebo controlled trial of ketamine in adults with ASD. 2) Design a pilot study of ketamine in children with ASD. 3) Publish the data on the pilot study for other researchers and clinicians to use to support patients with ASD.

Memantine is an uncompetitive agonist.  It has a modest effect in moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease.  It has been around for a long time, having been first synthesized in 1968.

There are two other Alzheimer’s drugs that seem to be helpful in some types of autism.  They are Donepezil (Aricept) and  Galantamine   They are both centrally acting reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.  So they work in an entirely different way to Memantine.

There have been several trials of Memantine in autism over the years.  Recently the producer, Forest Laboratories have been intensive trials to show its effectiveness and safety in childhood autism.

In 2007 Michael Chez carried out a study:- 

Memantine as adjunctive therapy in children diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorders: an observation of initial clinical response and maintenance tolerability

                             

Open-label add-on therapy was offered to 151 patients with prior diagnoses of autism or Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified over a 21-month period. To generate a clinician-derived Clinical Global Impression Improvement score for language, behavior, and self-stimulatory behaviors, the primary author observed the subjects and questioned their caretakers within 4 to 8 weeks of the initiation of therapy. Chronic maintenance therapy with the drug was continued if there were no negative side effects. Results showed significant improvements in open-label use for language function, social behavior, and self-stimulatory behaviors, although self-stimulatory behaviors comparatively improved to a lesser degree. Chronic use so far appears to have no serious side effects.

 Autism speaks have funded studies:-

 

A Placebo Controlled Trial of Memantine in Children and Adolescents with Autism 

A multi-site double-blind placebo-controlled trial of memantine vs. placebo inchildren with autism

Even the Iranians have been trialing it, but as usual as an adjunct therapy.

Memantine as adjunctive treatment to risperidone in children with autistic disorder: a randomized,double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Forest Laboratories have a series of trials underway of Memantine in autism

The full list is here

It appears that Forest have terminated what was to be a two year study.  Here is a blog post by one of the parents:-

 

D-Cycloserine is a glycine antagonist.  Its main use is as an antibiotic for treating drug resistant TB.  It is also used to treat drug addiction and social anxiety disorder.

It has been investigated in both mouse models of autism and in humans.

A Pilot Study of d-Cycloserine in Subjects With Autistic Disorder 

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The authors assessed the effects of d-cycloserine on the core symptom of social impairment in subjects with autism. METHOD: Following a 2-week, single-blind placebo lead-in phase, drug-free subjects with autistic disorder were administered three different doses of d-cycloserine during each of three 2-week periods. Measures used for subject ratings included the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale and Aberrant Behavior Checklist. RESULTS: Significant improvement was found on the CGI and social withdrawal subscale of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist. d-Cycloserine was well tolerated at most of the doses used in this study. CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study, d-cycloserine treatment resulted in significant improvement in social withdrawal. Further controlled studies of d-cycloserine in autism appear warranted.

Autistic-likesocial behaviour in Shank2-mutant mice improved by restoring NMDA receptor function

Direct stimulation of NMDARs with D-cycloserine, a partial agonist of NMDARs, normalizes NMDAR function and improves social interaction in Shank22/2 mice.

These results suggest that reduced NMDAR function may contribute to the development of ASD-like phenotypes in Shank22/2 mice, and mGluR modulation of NMDARs offers a potential strategy to treat ASD.

 

Magnesium

Magnesium is an uncompetitive NMDA channel blocker.  As you can see below on the diagram of the NMDA receptor site  (source Wikipedia)

 

1. Cell membrane
2. Channel blocked by Mg2+ at the block site (3)
3. Block site by Mg2+
4. Hallucinogen compounds binding site
5. Binding site for Zn2+
6. Binding site for agonists(glutamate) and/or antagonist ligands(APV)
7. Glycosilation sites
8. Proton biding sites
9. Glycine binding sites
10. Polyamines binding site
11. Extracellular space
12. Intracellular space

Magnesium seems to have a therapeutic effect in some types of autism.  There are several possible reasons why this might be and these have been covered in earlier posts.  The idea of using magnesium to block dysfunctional NMDA receptors is intriguing.  It is clear from the graphic that the receptor has evolved with this specifically in mind.

There are two simple ways to raise the concentration of magnesium, one is orally and the other is trans-dermally.  A problem with the oral route is that magnesium tends to upset the stomach and that is why it is used as laxative.

The clever transdermal route is take a bath in Epsom salts (MgSO₄) this will raise the level of magnesium (also sulphate).

Many people take such baths to feel better and look better, but be aware they also will reduce your blood pressure.  Some celebrities claim to take a daily bath in Epsom salts.

While some parents report that their child with ASD has behavioral improvements after an Epsom salt bath, in Monty, aged 10 with ASD, the reverse is true.  It does not make him calm, it agitates him.

Since it is cheap and widely available, an Epsom salt bath is not a bad thing to try.  Maybe it helps and maybe it will not; you will only know by trying.

 

Conclusion

Most likely in some subtypes of autism there is too much (hyper-function) glutamate activity, in some subtypes there is too little (hypo-function) and in other sub-types glutamate function is not impaired at all.  This is again saying that sub-types are different diseases.

For the time being, the only therapy would be one of trial and error with existing drugs.

Intranasal ketamine therapy is intriguing, but this might be hard to get hold of unless you are in a clinical trial, or your neighbour is a vet.

 “I have had very good success using ketamine eye drops in varying dilutions from 1:100 down to 1:5. Some of the responses have been quite remarkable. I also make ketamine nasal spray 1:25 and 1:10 and monitor its use because of a slight potential for abuse.”   Dr Jay Goldstein, treating various neurological disorders

Memantine has now been trialed in over 1,000 children.  If it was highly effective in a large percentage of people, I think we would have heard about it.  It looks to be the "wrong" Alzheimer's drug , the other two, Donepezil and Galantamine seem more beneficial for ASD.


One long-existing mGluR5 inhibitor, Fenebam, has already been trialed on people with Fragile X.  Until other drugs are developed, I wonder why this drug has been forgotten.

In the medium term, the new mGluR5 positive and negative modulators look like they may be able to address core defects in some sub-types of autism.  This would be a case where hard science and medicine really did work as they should (i.e. together).  I would put my money on this being the most effective Glutamate-related therapy. 

I personally like to look for the route cause, as far back up the chain of events as possible, to where the trouble began, and that might point to GAD therapy, but that is far in the future.