Mapk/Erk activation in an animal model of social deficits shows a possible link to autism.
All,
This study using a mouse model of autism found that increased activity of a brain signaling pathway called ERK/MAPK is linked to social behavior difficulties, and that measuring this pathway in blood cells (lymphocytes) may one day serve as a non-invasive way to assess brain activity related to autism—which is relevant to families with 16p11.2 variants since this pathway is known to be dysregulated in 16p11.2 syndromes.