Sulfur Metabolism and Sulfur-Containing Amino Acids Derivatives – II: Autism Spectrum Disorders, Schizophrenia and Fibromyalgia

The metabolism of sulfur (S) compounds concurs to the maintain of cell homeostasis and tissue integrity in the\udhuman body. Sulfur chemical species act in all cells as anti-oxidant/scavenging agents or regulators of membrane\udstability/excitability. At the same time, they also exert tissue-dependent functions behaving as protective molecules of\udthe liver and cardiovascular system, as modulators of the immune response, gut activity and CNS neurotransmitter\udsignaling. The involvement of S compounds in human complex, chronic, disabling diseases at multifaceted pathogenesis\udis actually under investigation: altered levels of S metabolites could be in fact bio-indicators of impaired oxidation state in\udthe body and their unbalance could be risk factors for disease onset. By the present review, we will discuss data from the\udliterature which unearth an altered S biochemistry in human complex illnesses, taking as an example highly invalidating\udneuropsychiatry and pain perception diseases as autism spectrum disorders (ASD), schizophrenia and fibromyalgia.\udAs well, we will depict herein the utility at applying to this area of the clinical research high resolving -omics strategies\udin combination with methodological tools which specifically explore S metabolism in patients. The perspectives of these\udkind of analyses would be the adoption of more valuable, personalized therapeutics protocols and, possibly, an improved\udbio-monitoring of patients, also including their response to treatments