Brain-derived neurotrophic factor over-expression in the forebrain ameliorates Huntington's disease phenotypes in mice.

Abstract

Huntington's disease (HD), a dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disorder characterized by relatively selective degeneration of striatal neurons, is caused by an expanded polyglutamine tract of the huntingtin (htt) protein. The htt mutation reduces levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the striatum, likely by inhibiting cortical BDNF gene expression and anterograde transport of BDNF from cortex to striatum. However, roles of the BDNF reduction in HD pathogenesis have not been established conclusively. We reasoned that increasing striatal BDNF through over-expression would slow progression of the disease if BDNF reduction plays a pivotal role in HD pathogenesis. We employed a Bdnf transgene driven by the promoter for the alpha subunit of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent kinase II to over-express BDNF in the forebrain of R6/1 mice which express a fragment of mutant htt with a 116-glutamine tract. The Bdnf transgene increased BDNF levels and TrkB signaling activity in the striatum, ameliorated motor dysfunction, and reversed brain weight loss in R6/1 mice. Furthermore, it normalized DARPP-32 expression of the 32 kDa dopamine and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein, increased the number of enkephalin-containing boutons, and reduced formation of neuronal intranuclear inclusions in the striatum of R6/1 mice. These results demonstrate crucial roles of reduced striatal BDNF in HD pathogenesis and suggest potential therapeutic values of BDNF to HD.

• Authors: Kusumika Gharami, Yuxiang Xie, Juan Ji An, Susumu Tonegawa, Baoji Xu
• Journal: Journal of neurochemistry (J Neurochem) Vol. 105 Issue 2 Pg. 369-79 (Apr 2008) ISSN: 1471-4159 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 18086127 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Chemical References

• Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
• Dopamine and cAMP-Regulated Phosphoprotein 32
• Enkephalins
• Htt protein, mouse
• Huntingtin Protein
• Nerve Tissue Proteins
• Nuclear Proteins
• Ppp1r1b protein, mouse

Topics

• Animals
• Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (genetics, metabolism)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Dopamine and cAMP-Regulated Phosphoprotein 32 (genetics, metabolism)
• Enkephalins (genetics, metabolism)
• Gene Expression Regulation (genetics, physiology)
• Huntingtin Protein
• Huntington Disease (genetics, pathology)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Mice, Transgenic
• Nerve Tissue Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Nuclear Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Phenotype
• Prosencephalon (metabolism)