Cell Type-specific Gene Expression Dysregulation Induced by CHD8 Loss in Mice: A Perspective from Neural Plasticity

In China and worldwide, neuroplasticity has been an active topic of research in autism studies, and since the human nervous system reacts to the external environment. In this project, CHD8+/- murine model was employed as a specific system to search for the molecular underpinnings of autism spectrum disorder, which means loss-of-function mutations in the transcriptional regulator CHD8 are responsible for causing disease. The strongest genetic risk factors for ASD are identified, RNA sequencing data from functionally impaired Chd8 KO mice displaying strong resemblance to human ASD condition showed dysregulation of networks involved in autism’ s pathophysiology. By using the CHD8 mouse model and verifying the significant transcriptional changes, the aim is to conduct some progressive research on the potential mechanisms of autism spectrum disorders.