Guanfacine and HCN channels: bridging neuroinflammation and prefrontal cortex function in autism spectrum disorder
Kazuhiko Yamamuro, Takahira Yamauchi, Manabu Makinodan · 2026
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Description
Kazuhiko Yamamuro and co-authors review how the drug guanfacine might help in autism. Two threads of evidence meet in the prefrontal cortex. That brain region's circuits run weak in autism, and chronic immune activation smolders nearby. Guanfacine is already used off-label in autistic children, but its rationale was scattered.
The drug presses a receptor that lowers cAMP signaling. In cortical neurons this closes HCN channels and firms up firing behind working memory and attention. In immune cells of the brain it damps inflammatory signals and calms microglia. The review links these twin effects to spine stability and behavior. It closes by weighing the clinical evidence from autism and related conditions.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Kazuhiko Yamamuro, Takahira Yamauchi, Manabu Makinodan |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2026 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 103 KB |
| VERSION | 1.0 |
| LICENSE | CC BY 4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |