The researchers used "gene scissors" to reduce autism symptoms in laboratory mice

U.S. researchers used gold nanoparticles to carry "gene scissors" to modify an autism-related gene in the brains of laboratory mice, successfully reducing stereotyped repetition in laboratory mice.
gene scissors refer to CRISPR-Cas9 technology, which can cut or replace gene fragments, just as you would edit an article on a computer.
new study, involving researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, is the first successful use of gene scissors to edit genes in the brain for therapeutic effect, according to a press release from the University of California, Berkeley. The paper was published in
Journal.
repetition of meaningless actions or strange behaviors over a long period of time is one of the typical symptoms of autism. Laboratory mice with brittle X chromosomal syndrome repeatedly dig and jump and can be used as animal models to study human autism, and their repetitive behavior is associated with overactive brain cells' metabolic glutamate-like lipolys 5 (mGluR5) genes.
researchers attached the "scissors" protein Cas9 and the positioned RNA to the surface of the gold nanoparticles, wrapped in polymers, and transported them to the synth region of the lab rat's brain through intracranial injections to modify the mGluR5 gene. It was found that the mGluR5 protein in the syroids was reduced by about half, the re-excavation behavior of laboratory mice was reduced by 30% and the repetitive jumping behavior was reduced by 70%.
tests showed that the gene scissors carried by the gold nanoparticles were able to gene-edit a variety of brain cells without significant toxicity. Compared to traditional viral vectors, gold nanoparticle vectors help control the expression of scissor proteins and locate RNA, allowing them to "work hard" and reduce side effects, the researchers said.
the causes of autism are complex, brittle X chromosomal syndrome is just one of them, and effective treatments for laboratory mice may not be effective in humans, so the results are not yet available for the treatment of autism. But it shows the potential of gene scissors and gold nanoparticle vectors, and will advance research into finding treatments for autism and many other brain-related diseases. (Source: Xinhua News Agency)