Optimization of a human CHD8 suppressed blood-brain barrier model

An increasing number of children is being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), characterized by deficits in social communication and restrictive repetitive actions. 50 – 80% of ASD diagnosed children also experience sleep problems, which has a big impact on quality of life for both child and parent. A correlation is found in ASD diagnosed children between mutation of chromodomain-helicase-DNA-binding protein 8 (CHD8) and having sleep problems. Since it is known that the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is involved in sleep regulation, the goal of this research was to optimize a CHD8 suppressed BBB model to study barrier integrity.