Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is characterized by learning disabilities and behavioural problems and is linked to dysregulated mRNA translation. Here, the authors treated a mouse model of FXS with the type 2 diabetes drug metformin, which, among other effects, suppresses translation. Metformin treatment rescued various phenotypes in these mice and downregulated translation-linked signalling pathways, decreasing the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9, which is implicated in FXS. This suggests that metformin may have therapeutic potential for this disorder.
References
Gantois, I. et al. Metformin ameliorates core deficits in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome. Nat. Med. 23, 674–677 (2017)
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Yates, D. Taking on FXS with a diabetes drug. Nat Rev Neurosci 18, 387 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn.2017.80
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn.2017.80