Tiffany Berry ’22 and Courtney Caccia ’22
A patient-derived iPSC model to study glutamate deficiency by SHANK-3 Mutation in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Tiffany Berry ’22, Biology and Psychology
Courtney Caccia ’22, Biology and Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Charles Toth, Biology
The use of human stem cell lines derived from persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) provides a unique opportunity to model brain growth and potential to regain brain activity for treatment. Our lab has previously used stem cells to derive 3D cardiomyocytes to examine cardiovascular disease as well as kidney organoids and macrophages to study kidney disease. Using techniques our lab has learned using these stem cell models have prepared us to examine cell communication in mutated neurons. We will be examining glutamate levels of neurons in those affected by the SHANK-3 mutation. A lowered level of glutamate in cells is present in people with ASD due to a SHANK-3 deletion. We propose using stem cell lines derived from patients diagnosed with ASD who have the SHANK-3 deletion to derive neurons and astrocytes examine the effects of glutamate deficiency on cell communication.
Poster Presentation: Wednesday, April 27, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
