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RESEARCH ARTICLE
A systematic computational analysis of pharmacological options in neuroinflammatory-induced autism spectrum disorder in children: A potential for drug repositioning
Manel Ismail1 ,
Soukaïna Aananou1 ,
Clovis Foguem2,3 ,
Kokou M. Guinhouya4 ,
Gloria T. Dossou1,5 ,
Fabio Boudis1,6 ,
Kissaou Tchedre7 ,
Christian Vilhelm1,2 ,
Benjamin C. Guinhouya1,2* ,
Djamel Zitoun8
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1
Department of Health Engineering and Management, Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, The University of Lille, Lille, Nord 59000,
France
2
Univ. Lille, ULR 2694 METRICS, The University of Lille, Lille, Nord 59000,
France
3
Department of Surgery, Gastroenterology, and Emergency, Auban–Moët Hospital, Epernay, Marne 51200,
France
4
Department of Neurology, Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital, Lomé 99345,
Togo
5
Univ. Lille, Lille University Management Lab (LUMEN) ULR 4999, The University of Lille, Lille, Nord 59000,
France
6
Department of Medical Informatics, Lille University Hospital, Lille, Nord 59000,
France
7
Nanoscope Technologies, LLC, Bedford, Texas 76022,
United States of America
8
Cancer Heterogeneity, Plasticity, and Resistance to Therapies (CANTHER), National Centre for Scientific Research, National Institute of Health and Medical Research, Lille University Hospital, The University of Lille, Lille, Nord 59000,
France
JBM, e99010079 https://doi.org/10.14440/jbm.0219
Submitted: 24 January 2025 | Revised: 5 May 2025 | Accepted: 1 September 2025 | Published: 23 October 2025
© 2025 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
Abstract
Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in social communication and the presence of restricted or repetitive behaviors. Although its underlying pathophysiological mechanisms remain unclear, growing evidence indicates that neuroinflammation plays a significant role, especially in children. Objective: This study aims to explore neuroinflammatory pathways in children aged 12 and under, with a focus on potential therapeutic opportunities through drug repositioning. Methods: We conducted a systematic computational analysis using data from 27 studies and bioinformatics resources such as DrugBank and PubChem, identifying over 8,000 potential drug candidates from the initial 29 treatments retrieved from the literature. Results: Key compounds such as cannabidiol, fluoxetine, and risperidone were highlighted for their broad therapeutic potential. In addition, emerging treatments, including cell-based therapies and dietary interventions, were explored. Conclusion: Our findings support drug repositioning as an effective strategy for developing new ASD treatments during critical developmental periods, emphasizing the need for further research to validate these pathways and the efficacy of innovative therapies.
Keywords
Brain
Bioinformatics
Data science
Inflammation
Pharmacology
Knowledge graph
Youth
Funding
None.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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