Journal Article

DZNE-2026-00292

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Shank3 related oligodendrocyte alterations in autism are restored by Erk pathway inhibition.

Ma, Y. (First author)DZNE* ; Bauer, H. F. ; Bockmann, J. ; Schön, M. ; Boeckers, T. M.DZNE* ; Lutz, A.-K.

2026
Springer Nature [London]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1038/s41380-025-03333-1

Abstract: White matter abnormalities are consistently observed in Shank3-related autism spectrum disorders (ASD), yet the mechanisms underlying oligodendrocyte dysfunction and myelination deficits remain poorly characterized. Here, we demonstrate that Shank3 deficiency disrupts oligodendrocyte development by promoting oligodendrocyte precursor cell (OPC) proliferation while impairing functional maturation and myelination. Mechanistically, Shank3 deficiency induced hyperactivation of the Erk signalling pathway, which compromised oligodendrocyte maturation and contributes to hypomyelination. Pharmacological inhibition of the Erk pathway effectively restored oligodendrocyte maturation in vitro, rescued myelination deficits in vivo, and partially improved autism-related behaviors and motor function in Shank3-deficient mice. Transcriptomic analyses furtherly revealed dysregulation of Wnt signalling, particularly the upregulation of Wnt5a, a key ligand of the non-canonical Wnt pathway, in Shank3-deficient oligodendrocytes. Consistently, Wnt5a treatment was found to activate Erk signalling in primary oligodendrocytes and replicate the observed myelination deficits. These findings uncover the Wnt5a-Erk axis as a critical regulator of oligodendrocyte dysfunction in Shank3-related ASD and highlight its therapeutic potential for addressing associated white matter deficits.

Keyword(s): Animals (MeSH) ; Male (MeSH) ; Mice (MeSH) ; Autistic Disorder: genetics (MeSH) ; Autistic Disorder: metabolism (MeSH) ; Autistic Disorder: physiopathology (MeSH) ; Corpus Callosum: metabolism (MeSH) ; Corpus Callosum: physiopathology (MeSH) ; MAP Kinase Signaling System (MeSH) ; Mice, Knockout (MeSH) ; Molecular Targeted Therapy (MeSH) ; Myelin Sheath: genetics (MeSH) ; Myelin Sheath: metabolism (MeSH) ; Oligodendroglia: physiology (MeSH) ; Primary Cell Culture (MeSH) ; White Matter: metabolism (MeSH) ; White Matter: physiopathology (MeSH) ; Microfilament Proteins: deficiency (MeSH) ; Microfilament Proteins: genetics (MeSH) ; Nerve Tissue Proteins: deficiency (MeSH) ; Nerve Tissue Proteins: genetics (MeSH) ; Shank3 protein, mouse ; Microfilament Proteins ; Nerve Tissue Proteins

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Translational Protein Biochemistry (AG Böckers)

Research Program(s):

1. 352 - Disease Mechanisms (POF4-352) (POF4-352)

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Database coverage:
; BIOSIS Previews ; Biological Abstracts ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Life Sciences ; DEAL Springer ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF >= 10 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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