Cortical Transcriptomic Dysregulation in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Conceptual Synthesis

This narrative review synthesizes RNA sequencing evidence from post-mortem autism cortex studies, identifying three key domains of molecular abnormality: synaptic/neuronal dysfunction, immune-glial dysregulation, and RNA-regulatory disruption. The review integrates findings from bulk and single-cell analyses while acknowledging critical interpretive constraints including developmental timing, regional specificity, and tissue quality factors.