The goal is to establish critical developmental ages and molecular targets for treating pathology in Fragile X premutation carriers (PM) and in Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia (FXTAS) using CGG knock-in mice (CGGex KI) and doxycycline-inducible dox-CGG99 mice. The Fragile X gene (FMR1) is polymorphic for the number of CGG trinucleotide repeats in the 5'-untranslated region. Repeat sizes in the general population range between 5-55 CGG repeats. In Fragile X syndrome (FXS) repeat expansions exceed 200, silencing expression of FMR1 and its protein product FMRP, resulting in mental retardation. Carriers of the FMR1 PM have between 55-200 repeats and were originally thought to be free of pathology. However, several neurological disorders occur in carriers of the PM, including anxiety, depression and mild motor and cognitive impairments. The incidence of the PM in the general population is high, with estimates of 1:250 for females and 1:800 for males, or more than 1.5 million PM carriers in the United States alone. Approximately 40% of male and 8-11% of female PM carriers are also at risk for developing FXTAS, a late onset neurodegenerative disorder causing tremor, ataxia, brain pathology, cognitive loss, dementia and early death in some individuals. Therefore, there is a need to define critical ages when pathology begins, developmental windows when the disorder may be halted or reversed, and the cellular and molecular mechanisms that can be used as therapeutic targets for symptomatic PM carriers and patients with FXTAS. To address these important questions we have developed powerful in vivo and in vitro mouse models of PM and FXTAS, including dox-inducible mice in which expression of a CGG99 repeat expansion can be activated by doxycycline (dox) and then inactivated following dox withdrawal. These mice will be used to establish critical developmental periods when disease processes begin and developmental periods when disease might be halted or reversed. We will also establish whether pathology in astrocytes, neurons or both is """"""""necessary and sufficient"""""""" to cause disease. Finally, we will use these mouse models to test novel treatment strategies using gapmer antisense oligonucleotides (AONs) that may improve neurological function in symptomatic carriers of the PM and in patients with FXTAS.

Public Health Relevance

This project will study Fragile Associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS), a late onset neurodegenerative disorder that causes cognitive decline, and may be one of the most common causes of tremor/ataxia in older adults. The project is significant for public health because the numbers of FXTAS patients requiring medical care will be increasing significantly as the population ages. The goal is to establish when during development the disease process begins, and if disease progression can be halted or reversed and neurological function improved by appropriate treatments.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01NS079775-01A1
Application #
8506917
Study Section
Developmental Brain Disorders Study Section (DBD)
Program Officer
Riddle, Robert D
Project Start
2013-04-01
Project End
2018-03-31
Budget Start
2013-04-01
Budget End
2014-03-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$343,601
Indirect Cost
$100,819
Name
University of California Davis
Department
Neurosurgery
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
047120084
City
Davis
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
95618
Sellier, Chantal; Buijsen, Ronald A M; He, Fang et al. (2017) Translation of Expanded CGG Repeats into FMRpolyG Is Pathogenic and May Contribute to Fragile X Tremor Ataxia Syndrome. Neuron 93:331-347
Castro, Hoanna; Kul, Emre; Buijsen, Ronald A M et al. (2017) Selective rescue of heightened anxiety but not gait ataxia in a premutation 90CGG mouse model of Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome. Hum Mol Genet 26:2133-2145
Foote, Molly M; Careaga, Milo; Berman, Robert F (2016) What has been learned from mouse models of the Fragile X Premutation and Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome? Clin Neuropsychol 30:960-72
Buijsen, R A M; Visser, J A; Kramer, P et al. (2016) Presence of inclusions positive for polyglycine containing protein, FMRpolyG, indicates that repeat-associated non-AUG translation plays a role in fragile X-associated primary ovarian insufficiency. Hum Reprod 31:158-68
Foote, Molly; Arque, Gloria; Berman, Robert F et al. (2016) Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS) Motor Dysfunction Modeled in Mice. Cerebellum 15:611-22
Hukema, Renate K; Buijsen, Ronald A M; Schonewille, Martijn et al. (2015) Reversibility of neuropathology and motor deficits in an inducible mouse model for FXTAS. Hum Mol Genet 24:4948-57
Careaga, Milo; Rose, Destanie; Tassone, Flora et al. (2014) Immune dysregulation as a cause of autoinflammation in fragile X premutation carriers: link between FMRI CGG repeat number and decreased cytokine responses. PLoS One 9:e94475
von Leden, Ramona E; Curley, Lindsey C; Greenberg, Gian D et al. (2014) Reduced activity-dependent protein levels in a mouse model of the fragile X premutation. Neurobiol Learn Mem 109:160-8
Buijsen, Ronald A M; Sellier, Chantal; Severijnen, Lies-Anne W F M et al. (2014) FMRpolyG-positive inclusions in CNS and non-CNS organs of a fragile X premutation carrier with fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2:162
Berman, Robert F; Buijsen, Ronald Am; Usdin, Karen et al. (2014) Mouse models of the fragile X premutation and fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome. J Neurodev Disord 6:25

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