MicroRNA-Targeted Signaling Pathways in the Autism Spectrum Disorder: Implications for Early Detection and Targeted Therapy

Background & Objective: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is known as a neurodevelopmental disorder showing communication impairments and unusual patterns of behavior. Presently, it seems that ASD frequency is on the increase. Therefore, diagnostic tools that help detect the disease in the early stages can be very useful in better management of the disease. Recent studies demonstrate that miRNAs as novel biomarkers can be used to find out the process and etiology of ASD by regulating various genes of multiple pathways. However, ASD associated pathway targeted by miRNA is still in infancy. Methods: In this in silico study taking into consideration the importance of miRNAs, we reviewed bioinformatics databases for finding possible pathways and potential miRNAs related to selected pathways. Results: The results displayed some prominent pathways involved in ASD, as well as some experimental and predicted miRNAs that may regulate targets associated with these pathways such as neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, serotonergic synapse, calcium signaling pathway, cAMP Signaling Pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Conclusion: This study showed that the identified miRNAs may be involved in ASD-related pathways and may be considered as a new diagnostic tool and provide potential targets for the treatment of ASD.