Project description:Purkinje cells (PC) of the cerebellum degenerate in adult mice with mutations in the Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease 1 (Npc1) gene. We subjected BALB/c Npc1+/+ and Npc1-/- mouse cerebella from an early and a later time point of PC degeneration to a genome-wide microarray gene expression analysis. We found general underrepresentation of PC-specific transcripts, consistent with PC loss, and elevated markers of microglia activation at the later time point. Keywords: Niemann-Pick type C, Purkinje cell degeneration
Project description:Purkinje cells (PC) of the cerebellum degenerate in adult mice with mutations in the Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease 1 (Npc1) gene. We subjected BALB/c Npc1+/+ and Npc1-/- mouse cerebella from an early and a later time point of PC degeneration to a genome-wide microarray gene expression analysis. We found general underrepresentation of PC-specific transcripts, consistent with PC loss, and elevated markers of microglia activation at the later time point. Experiment Overall Design: 12 BALB/c Npc1 mice of the two ages P21 and P49 and the two genotypes Npc1+/+ and Npc1-/- were used, 3 replicates for each age and genotype. The animals were of the same breed and lived under identical housing conditions. All except one animal were female. The animals were not further treated, but only sacrificed at P21 or P49.
Project description:Niemann-Pick Type C disease is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder with abnormal lipid storage as the major cellular pathologic hallmark. Genetic analyses have identified mutations in NPC1 gene in the great majority of cases, while mutations in NPC2 account for the remainders. Yet, little is known regarding the cellular mechanisms responsible for NPC pathogenesis, especially for neurodegeneration, which is the usual cause of death. To identify critical steps that could account for the pathological manifestations of the disease in one of the most affected brain structures, we performed global gene expression analysis in the cerebellum from three-week old Npc1+/+ and Npc1-/- mice with two different microarray platforms (Agilent and Illumina). Our results provide novel molecular insight regarding the mechanisms of pathogenesis in NPC disease and reveal potential new therapeutic targets. We performed global gene expression analysis in the cerebellum from three-week old Npc1+/+ and Npc1-/- mice with two different microarray platforms (Agilent and Illumina). Differentially-expressed genes identified by both microarray platforms were then subjected to KEGG pathway analysis. Expression of genes in six pathways was significantly altered in Npc1-/- mice; functionally, these signaling pathways belong to the following three categories: 1) steroid and terpenoid biosynthesis, 2) immune response, and 3) cell adhesion/motility. In addition, the expression of several proteins involved in lipid transport was significantly altered in Npc1-/- mice.
