Methods and Compositions for Treatment of Autism

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for treating autism. Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for treating an autism spectrum disorder.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating autism or one or more autism spectrum disorders, comprising,
 administering to a subject diagnosed with autism or one or more autism spectrum disorders an effective amount of a composition comprising hydroxyurea; and   allowing the cells of the subject to return to homeostasis substantially equivalent to the state that existed in the cells prior to administering the compound.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in at least one cell of the subject, the stress proteome is stimulated. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in at least one cell of the subject, increased nitrous oxide production is detected. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in at least one cell of the subject stress-sensing organelles are increased from an amount prior to the administration of the composition. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the stress-sensing organelle is a mitochondrion. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the stress-sensing organelle is a peroxisome. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the general cellular stress response comprises at least one of mitochondrial biogenesis, peroxisome proliferation, activation of the stress proteome, transcription and/or translation of genes and proteins encoded by genes comprising heat shock and unfolded protein, genes for autophagic responses, genes for antioxidant responses, and genes for the c-jun-N-terminal kinase pathway. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein genes for heat shock proteins comprise heat shock protein 40, 70, and/or 90 family members; unfolded protein genes comprise glucose regulated protein 78 (BIP), PERK, inositol requiring 1 (IRE1) and activating transcription factor 6; autophagic response genes comprise beclin-1 (BCN1), autophagy protein 5 (ATG5) and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3 or APG8); and antioxidant response genes comprises expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-like 2 (NFE2L2), heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2). 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cell of the subject is located in the brain of the subject. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cell of the subject is not located in the brain of the subject. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises at least one of a histone deacetylase inhibitor, Class I histone deacetylase inhibitor, or a Class II histone deacetylase inhibitor. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is a pharmaceutical composition, a medical food, a food, a drink, or a dietary supplement. 
     
     
         13 . A method of treating autism or one or more autism spectrum disorders, comprising, administering to a subject diagnosed with autism or one or more autism spectrum disorders an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising hydroxyurea. 
     
     
         14 . A method for determining effectiveness of a compound in treating autism or one or more autism related disorders, comprising,
 contacting a first cell with an effective amount of a test compound,   comparing the response of the first cell to the response of a second, optionally identical, cell that was contacted with hydroxyurea, and   determining whether or not the test compound induces a general cellular stress response in cells.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the cell is a normal human fibroblast, a XALD fibroblast, or a K562 cell. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the contacting occurs in vitro or in vivo. 
     
     
         17 . A method of treating autism or one or more autism spectrum disorders, comprising,
 administering to a subject diagnosed with autism or one or more autism spectrum disorders an effective amount of a composition comprising hydroxy that induces a general cellular stress response in at least one cell of the subject; and   allowing the cells of the subject to return to homeostasis substantially equivalent to the state that existed in the cells prior to administering the compound.