Project description:Dysregulation of the kynurenine (Kyn) pathway has been associated with the progression of Huntington's disease (HD). In particular, elevated levels of the kynurenine metabolites 3-hydroxy kynurenine (3-OH-Kyn) and quinolinic acid (Quin), have been reported in the brains of HD patients as well as in rodent models of HD. The production of these metabolites is controlled by the activity of kynurenine mono-oxygenase (KMO), a mitochondrial outer membrane enzyme which catalyzes the synthesis of 3-OH-Kyn from Kyn. Thus inhibiting KMO is expected to produce a beneficial effect in Huntington's Disease (HD) patients, hopefully reversing their phenotype to match healthy subjects. To test this effect, we chronically treated a mouse model of HD (R6/2, a transgenic mouse model of HD which contains a human HTT gene containing 90 CAG repeats) and wild type mice with a KMO inhibitor for 8 weeks, and separately used a mock treatment on both the transgenic mice and wild type mice. The goal of this project is to analyze the RNA-seq data and find gene expression changes associated with the KMO inhibitor.
Project description:R6/2 and WT mice treated orally twice a day with vehicle (10% HPβCD), and R6/2 mice treated with either 30 or 100 mg/kg orally twice a day CHDI-00390576. CHDI-00390576 is a Class IIa HDAC inhibitor. Mice were dosed from 4 - 12 weeks of age.
Project description:Dysregulation of the kynurenine (Kyn) pathway has been associated with the progression of Huntington's disease (HD). In particular, elevated levels of the kynurenine metabolites 3-hydroxy kynurenine (3-OH-Kyn) and quinolinic acid (Quin), have been reported in the brains of HD patients as well as in rodent models of HD. The production of these metabolites is controlled by the activity of kynurenine mono-oxygenase (KMO), a mitochondrial outer membrane enzyme which catalyzes the synthesis of 3-OH-Kyn from Kyn. Thus inhibiting KMO is expected to produce a beneficial effect in Huntington's Disease (HD) patients, hopefully reversing their phenotype to match healthy subjects. To test this effect, we acutely treated a mouse model of HD (R6/2, a transgenic mouse model of HD which contains a human HTT gene containing 90 CAG repeats) and wild type mice with a KMO inhibitor, and separately used a mock treatment on both the transgenic mice and wild type mice. The goal of this project is to analyze the RNA-seq data and find gene expression changes associated with the KMO inhibitor
Project description:HuntingtonM-bM-^@M-^Ys disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that is associated with the deposition of proteinaceous aggregates in the brains of HD patients and mouse models. Previous studies have suggested that wide-scale disruption of protein homeostasis occurs in protein folding diseases. Protein homeostasis can be maintained by activation of the heat shock response (HSR) via the transcription factor heat shock factor 1 (HSF1), the pharmacological activation of which can be achieved by Hsp90 inhibition and has been demonstrated to be beneficial in cell and invertebrate models of HD. Whether the HSR is functional in HD and whether its activation has therapeutic potential in mammalian HD models is currently unknown. To address these issues, we used a novel, brain penetrant Hsp90 inhibitor to activate the HSR in brain after systemic administration. Microarrays, quantitative PCR and western blotting showed that the HSR becomes impaired with disease progression in two mouse models of HD and that this originates at the level of transcription. HuntingtonM-bM-^@M-^Ys disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that is associated with the deposition of proteinaceous aggregates in the brains of HD patients and mouse models. Previous studies have suggested that wide-scale disruption of protein homeostasis occurs in protein folding diseases. Protein homeostasis can be maintained by activation of the heat shock response (HSR) via the transcription factor heat shock factor 1 (HSF1), the pharmacological activation of which can be achieved by Hsp90 inhibition and has been demonstrated to be beneficial in cell and invertebrate models of HD. Whether the HSR is functional in HD and whether its activation has therapeutic potential in mammalian HD models is currently unknown. To address these issues, we used a novel, brain penetrant Hsp90 inhibitor to activate the HSR in brain after systemic administration. Microarrays, quantitative PCR and western blotting showed that the HSR becomes impaired with disease progression in two mouse models of HD and that this originates at the level of transcription. mRNA expression analysis was performed by microarray in 12 week old R6/2 and WT mice treated with vehicle or HSP990 for 4h (12mg/kg).The following number of replicates was analysed for each genotype: 7 for WT+vehicle, 10 for WT+HSP990, 7 for R6/2+vehicle and 8 for R6/2+HSP990. Microarray quality control was performed using the software package provided on RACE (http://race.unil.ch).
Project description:Huntington’s disease is a genetic disease caused by a single mutation. It is characterised by progressive movement, emotional and cognitive deficits. R6/2 transgenic mice carrying the Huntington’s disease mutation have a progressive neurological phenotype, including deterioration in cognitive function. The mechanism underlying the cognitive deficits in R6/2 mice is unknown, but dysregulated gene expression, reduced neurotransmitter levels and abnormal synaptic function are present before the cognitive decline becomes pronounced. Our goal here was to ameliorate the cognitive phenotype in R6/2 mice using a combination drug therapy (tacrine, moclobemide and creatine) aimed boosting neurotransmitter levels in the brain. Treatment from 5 weeks of age prevented deterioration in two different cognitive tasks until at least 12 weeks. However, motor deterioration continued unabated. Microarray analysis of global gene expression revealed that many genes significantly up- or down-regulated in untreated R6/2 mice had returned towards normal levels after treatment. Thus dysregulated gene expression was reversed by the combination treatment in the R6/2 mice and probably underlies the observed improvements in cognitive function. Our study shows that cognitive decline caused by a genetic mutation can be slowed by a combination drug treatment, and gives hope that cognitive symptoms in HD can be treated. Keywords = HD Keywords = Huntingtin Keywords = cognitive disorder Keywords = R6/2 Keywords = transgenic mice Keywords = gene expression Keywords = microarray Keywords: ordered
Project description:An exponentially growing culture of strain R6 in AGCH at OD620nm=0.4 was either non-treated or treated with two LVX concentrations: 0.125 ug/ml LVX (0.5x MIC of R6) and 2.5 ug/ml LVX (10x MIC of R6). Samples were taken before treatment (0 min), at 15, 30 and 60 min in the non-treated culture, and at 5, 15 ,30 and 60 min in the LVX treated cultures
Project description:Huntington’s disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that is associated with the deposition of proteinaceous aggregates in the brains of HD patients and mouse models. Previous studies have suggested that wide-scale disruption of protein homeostasis occurs in protein folding diseases. Protein homeostasis can be maintained by activation of the heat shock response (HSR) via the transcription factor heat shock factor 1 (HSF1), the pharmacological activation of which can be achieved by Hsp90 inhibition and has been demonstrated to be beneficial in cell and invertebrate models of HD. Whether the HSR is functional in HD and whether its activation has therapeutic potential in mammalian HD models is currently unknown. To address these issues, we used a novel, brain penetrant Hsp90 inhibitor to activate the HSR in brain after systemic administration. Microarrays, quantitative PCR and western blotting showed that the HSR becomes impaired with disease progression in two mouse models of HD and that this originates at the level of transcription. Huntington’s disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that is associated with the deposition of proteinaceous aggregates in the brains of HD patients and mouse models. Previous studies have suggested that wide-scale disruption of protein homeostasis occurs in protein folding diseases. Protein homeostasis can be maintained by activation of the heat shock response (HSR) via the transcription factor heat shock factor 1 (HSF1), the pharmacological activation of which can be achieved by Hsp90 inhibition and has been demonstrated to be beneficial in cell and invertebrate models of HD. Whether the HSR is functional in HD and whether its activation has therapeutic potential in mammalian HD models is currently unknown. To address these issues, we used a novel, brain penetrant Hsp90 inhibitor to activate the HSR in brain after systemic administration. Microarrays, quantitative PCR and western blotting showed that the HSR becomes impaired with disease progression in two mouse models of HD and that this originates at the level of transcription.