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Sperm epigenetic mechanisms in autism spectrum disorders. The valproate case illustrates an enduring and systemic failure

Molecular Psychiatry (2024)Cite this article

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Feinberg et al. must be commended for providing new evidence of the potential importance of sperm epigenetic mechanisms in autism spectrum disorder [1]. The Early Autism Risk Longitudinal Investigation (EARLI) cohort that enrolled pregnant women who already had a child with autism spectrum disorder also allowed the study of sperm epigenome [1].

Coincidentally, on May 30, the regulatory agency from New Zealand was the first to have issued a warning letter highlighting that a pharmacoepidemiologic study “suggests a potential increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children whose fathers were treated with valproate at the time of the child’s conception compared to those treated with lamotrigine or levetiracetam” [2]. This study was requested by the European Medicines Agency to companies marketing valproate, at least 5 years ago [3]. However, the Agency denied a freedom of information request for data, despite an appeal. Accordingly, it is not possible to rule out that valproate could cause epigenetic changes in spermatogonial stem cells, in which case exposure at any time in life prior to conception may have the same effects.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Association to Help Parents of Children Suffering from Anti-Convulsant Syndrome (APESAC), 8 rue Ramon Saguardia, 66450, Pollestres, France

    Marine Martin

  2. 80000, Amiens, France

    Alain Braillon

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  1. Marine Martin
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  2. Alain Braillon
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AB wrote a first draft. AB and MM have reviewed and approved the final version.

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Correspondence to Alain Braillon.

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Competing interests

In 2011, MM created an umbrella association (Association to Help Parents of Children Suffering from Anti-Convulsant Syndrome. APESAC), being the mother of two children who were consecutively damaged by valproate. AN has no conflict of interest.

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Martin, M., Braillon, A. Sperm epigenetic mechanisms in autism spectrum disorders. The valproate case illustrates an enduring and systemic failure. Mol Psychiatry (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-023-02401-8

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