Pharmacological reactivation of inactive X-linked Mecp2 in cerebral cortical neurons of living mice.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
; 115(31): 7991-7996, 2018 07 31.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30012595
ABSTRACT
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a genetic disorder resulting from a loss-of-function mutation in one copy of the X-linked gene methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2). Typical RTT patients are females and, due to random X chromosome inactivation (XCI), â¼50% of cells express mutant MECP2 and the other â¼50% express wild-type MECP2. Cells expressing mutant MECP2 retain a wild-type copy of MECP2 on the inactive X chromosome (Xi), the reactivation of which represents a potential therapeutic approach for RTT. Previous studies have demonstrated reactivation of Xi-linked MECP2 in cultured cells by biological or pharmacological inhibition of factors that promote XCI (called "XCI factors" or "XCIFs"). Whether XCIF inhibitors in living animals can reactivate Xi-linked MECP2 in cerebral cortical neurons, the cell type most therapeutically relevant to RTT, remains to be determined. Here, we show that pharmacological inhibitors targeting XCIFs in the PI3K/AKT and bone morphogenetic protein signaling pathways reactivate Xi-linked MECP2 in cultured mouse fibroblasts and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived postmitotic RTT neurons. Notably, reactivation of Xi-linked MECP2 corrects characteristic defects of human RTT neurons including reduced soma size and branch points. Most importantly, we show that intracerebroventricular injection of the XCIF inhibitors reactivates Xi-linked Mecp2 in cerebral cortical neurons of adult living mice. In support of these pharmacological results, we also demonstrate genetic reactivation of Xi-linked Mecp2 in cerebral cortical neurons of living mice bearing a homozygous XCIF deletion. Collectively, our results further establish the feasibility of pharmacological reactivation of Xi-linked MECP2 as a therapeutic approach for RTT.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Síndrome de Rett
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Corteza Cerebral
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Proteína 2 de Unión a Metil-CpG
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Mutación
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Neuronas
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Animals
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Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Año:
2018
Tipo del documento:
Article