The role of PTEN in the formation of thalamocortical axonal tracts

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heritable disorder which affect ̴1% of the population. Unfortunately, no targeted therapy is available. It is widely established that PTEN is important for neuronal development and its molecular pathways are a promising potential target for the development of treatments for ASD. Since disruption of the connectivity between the thalamus and the cortex is known to have a role in ASD, new insights in the regulation of the formation of axonal tracts from the thalamus to the cortex by PTEN are required. An overview of the current knowledge of the influence of PTEN on axon development is here provided. Furthermore, the involved molecular pathways are discussed. Based on current knowledge, it is hypothesized that PTEN decelerates axonal outgrowth and enables binding of the axon to its target. Starting points to investigate the details of the function of PTEN in the development of the thalamocortical tract are described. In the end, this review provides insights which make the discovery of new targeted therapies for ASD possible.