Gene-environment interactions in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): excess copy number variants (CNVs) in genes regulating the effect of environmental exposure to toxicants

ASD is an heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder, with an estimated heritability of 50% and a complex genetic etiology. Recent studies also implicate exposure to environmental factors in this disorder. We thus hypothesize that ASD is the result of the interaction of a genetic susceptibility with...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Xavier Santos, João (author)
Format: conferenceObject
Language:eng
Published: 2017
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10400.18/4744
Country:Portugal
Oai:oai:repositorio.insa.pt:10400.18/4744
Description
Summary:ASD is an heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder, with an estimated heritability of 50% and a complex genetic etiology. Recent studies also implicate exposure to environmental factors in this disorder. We thus hypothesize that ASD is the result of the interaction of a genetic susceptibility with exposure to environmental toxicants early in development. Here we tested whether affected individuals have an excess of CNVs targeting genes involved in control of toxicant effects, including detoxification or regulation of barrier permeability (blood-brain barrier, placenta and respiratory cilia).