Modeling autism in non-human primates: Opportunities and challenges.
Monkey models can test autism drugs but are too costly for routine use, explaining why few new treatments reach your clients.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The authors looked at using monkeys to study autism. They asked if genetically modified monkeys could help us test new drugs. The paper is a narrative review, not new data.
They focused on macaque monkeys with autism-like gene changes. These monkeys show social problems and repetitive actions like humans with autism.
What they found
The review found both good news and bad news. The monkeys do show autism-like behaviors. But the studies are very expensive and raise ethical questions.
Few labs can afford these models. The monkeys also take years to grow up. This makes quick drug testing hard.
How this fits with other research
Hudson et al. (2012) reviewed autism medications in children. They found most drugs lack strong evidence. This matches why we need better animal models like the monkeys.
Brondino et al. (2016) studied GABA drugs for autism. They also found weak evidence. The monkey models could help test these drugs before human trials.
Cohen et al. (2005) looked at genetic syndromes that look like autism. The monkey models use similar genes. This creates a bridge between rare genetic forms and common autism.
Why it matters
You won't use monkeys in your clinic. But this research affects what treatments get developed. When drug companies test new autism medications, they need good animal models. The monkey studies show both the promise and limits of this approach. This helps you understand why some promising drugs never reach human trials.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
UNLABELLED: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social communication deficits and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior. For more than a decade, genetically-modified, risk factor-induced, as well as naturally occurring rodent models for ASD have been used as the most predominant tools to dissect the molecular and circuitry mechanisms underlying ASD. However, the apparent evolutionary differences in terms of social behavior and brain anatomy between rodents and humans have become an issue of debate regarding the translational value of rodent models for studying ASD. More recently, genome manipulation of non human primates using lentivirus-based gene expression, TALEN and CRISPR/Cas9 mediated gene editing techniques, has been reported. Genetically modified non-human primate models for ASD have been produced and characterized. While the feasibility, value, and exciting opportunities provided by the non-human primate models have been clearly demonstrated, many challenges still remain. Here, we review current progress, discuss the remaining challenges, and highlight the key issues in the development of non-human primate models for ASD research and drug development. Autism Res 2018, 11: 686-694. © 2018 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: Over the last two decades, genetically modified rat and mouse models have been used as the most predominant tools to study mechanisms underlying autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the apparent evolutionary differences between rodents and humans limit the translational value of rodent models for studying ASD. Recently, several non-human primate models for ASD have been established and characterized. Here, we review current progress, discuss the challenges, and highlight the key issues in the development of non-human primate models for ASD research and drug development.
Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research, 2018 · doi:10.1002/aur.1945