Investigating the Therapeutic Efficacy of All-trans Retinoic Acid in Autism Spectrum Disorder Patients With 15q11-13 Duplication Syndrome

Zhejiang University

Status and phase: Not yet enrolling; Phase 2

Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder; Dup15q Syndrome; All-trans Retinoic Acid; Therapy

Treatments: Drug: ATRA

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07079696

2025-0465

Details and patient eligibility

About

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) , hereafter referred to as autism, is a group of neurodevelopmental disorders caused by genetic and environmental factors. Its core symptoms are social impairment, repetitive stereotyped behaviors, and restricted interests.

The 15q11-13 region of the human chromosome is a locus prone to structural abnormalities leading to neurological disorders. Maternal duplications within this region lead to Dup15q syndrome , which accounts for approximately 1% of ASD cases .

This region harbors multiple alleles, and current research indicates that the pathophysiological alterations in this syndrome primarily involve UBE3A . Among all genes in the 15q11-13 region, only UBE3A exhibits cell-type-specific maternal monoallelic expression . Consequently, duplication of the UBE3A gene is considered the primary pathogenic factor in the pathology of Dup15q syndrome.

Studies show that the metabolic conversion of retinol to retinoic acid is impaired in ASD patients with UBE3A overexpression and corresponding animal models . Notably, dietary supplementation with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) has been shown to significantly ameliorate autism-like behaviors caused by UBE3A overexpression in male mice .

This study aims to evaluate ATRA treatment in children with Dup15q syndrome-related autism , assessing changes in their ADOS-2 scores , to potentially provide a novel therapeutic approach for autism treatment.

Enrollment: 90 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 3 to 7 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Clinical Diagnosis Conducted by two experienced physicians based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition （DSM-V）
2. Diagnostic Scale Assessment Performed by professionally certified examiners using ADOS-2
3. Genetic Testing Diagnostic criteria via genomic analysis : detection of 15q11-13 duplication containing UBE3A

Exclusion criteria

1. History of acute or chronic infection within the past 3 months
2. Active epileptic seizures within the past 6 months
3. Intake of nutritional supplements (e.g., vitamin A and/or minerals) within the past 1 month
4. History of chronic diseases, including abnormal liver function, abnormal renal function, or thyroid dysfunction

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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90 participants in 1 patient group

Group experimental

Experimental group

Description:

Age: 3-7 years old (stratified into Group 1: 3-5 years; Group 2: 5-7 years).

Treatment:

Drug: ATRA