[Experimental models used in research into genetic disorders that involve intellectual disability]. / Modelos experimentales utilizados en la investigación de trastornos genéticos que cursan con discapacidad intelectual.

INTRODUCTION: A basic principle of molecular and clinical medicine states that the function of the organs and the cells they are made up of is determined by the overall set of specific proteins. Therefore, the function of each organ depends on the molecules present in each cell, and hence it comes as no surprise to find that when tissue function is altered, different changes have taken place in the proteins. In the nervous system there are numerous examples of changes in proteins that correlate with functional alterations, either during normal or pathological development. DEVELOPMENT: In order to understand these relations, and to establish models in which to study the aetiopathogenesis of the disease, it is necessary to direct steady synthesis or to suppress synthesis in the brain of the protein that is potentially involved in the development of the disease. In consequence, it is possible to determine whether the presence or the absence of the protein is the direct or indirect cause of the effects; this is one of the main goals that must be achieved in order to enable researchers to define potential therapeutic targets in hereditary diseases. In order to manipulate the specific protein causing a pathology, we use experimental animal models as essential research tools, since they enable us to determine which mechanisms are altered and how the function of a particular protein affects the mechanisms being studied. CONCLUSIONS: Suppressing a gene or its over-expression in models using genetically modified mice will provide us with a means of modifying the genome and, eventually, the protein in the different tissues as well as in the nervous system in an attempt to imitate the genetic pathology that involves mental retardation. By controlling or suppressing the expression of a protein in the brain it becomes possible to remodel the functional profile of the tissue and study the consequences of molecular genetic manipulation, together with the biochemical, cytological and physiological processes, under normal basal conditions and under specific stimuli or conditions such as stress.

Modelos experimentales utilizados en la investigación de trastornos genéticos que cursan con discapacidad intelectual / Experimental models used in research into genetic disorders that involve intellectual disability

Introducción. Es un principio básico en medicina moleculary clínica que el conjunto de proteínas específicas determinan lafunción de la célula y los órganos que componen. Por tanto, la funciónde cada órgano depende de las moléculas presentes en cada célula;no es sorprendente que cuando se altera la función tisular hanocurrido distintos cambios en las proteínas. En el sistema nerviosohay numerosos ejemplos de cambios en proteínas que se correlacionancon alteraciones funcionales, ya sea durante el desarrollo normalo patológico. Desarrollo. Para entender estas relaciones, y paraestablecer modelos en los que estudiar la etiopatogenia de la enfermedad,es necesario dirigir la síntesis estable o anular la síntesis enel cerebro de la proteína candidata involucrada en el desarrollo dela enfermedad. Como resultado, se puede determinar si la presenciade la proteína o su ausencia causa los efectos directamente o indirectamente;es una de las metas principales para poder definir potencialesdianas terapéuticas de las enfermedades hereditarias. Paraafectar la proteína específica causante de una patología, usamosmodelos animales de experimentación como herramientas esencialesen la investigación; con ellos se pueden establecer qué mecanismosse alteran y cómo afecta la función de la proteína concreta a losmecanismos estudiados. Conclusiones. La anulación de un gen o susobreexpresión, a través de modelos de ratón modificados genéticamente,proporcionarán un medio para modificar el genoma y, alfinal, la proteína de los distintos tejidos y también del sistema nervioso,en un intento de imitar la patología genética que cursa conretraso mental. Controlando o anulando la expresión de una proteínaen el cerebro es posible remodelar el perfil funcional del tejido yestudiar las consecuencias de la manipulación genética molecular,y los procesos bioquímicos, citológicos y fisiológicos, bajo condicionesbasales y bajo estímulos o condiciones específicas como elestrés

Introduction. A basic principle of molecular and clinical medicine states that the function of the organs and the cellsthey are made up of is determined by the overall set of specific proteins. Therefore, the function of each organ depends on themolecules present in each cell, and hence it comes as no surprise to find that when tissue function is altered, different changeshave taken place in the proteins. In the nervous system there are numerous examples of changes in proteins that correlate withfunctional alterations, either during normal or pathological development. Development. In order to understand these relations,and to establish models in which to study the aetiopathogenesis of the disease, it is necessary to direct steady synthesis or tosuppress synthesis in the brain of the protein that is potentially involved in the development of the disease. In consequence, it ispossible to determine whether the presence or the absence of the protein is the direct or indirect cause of the effects; this is oneof the main goals that must be achieved in order to enable researchers to define potential therapeutic targets in hereditarydiseases. In order to manipulate the specific protein causing a pathology, we use experimental animal models as essentialresearch tools, since they enable us to determine which mechanisms are altered and how the function of a particular proteinaffects the mechanisms being studied. Conclusions. Suppressing a gene or its over-expression in models using geneticallymodified mice will provide us with a means of modifying the genome and, eventually, the protein in the different tissues as well asin the nervous system in an attempt to imitate the genetic pathology that involves mental retardation. By controlling or suppressingthe expression of a protein in the brain it becomes possible to remodel the functional profile of the tissue and study theconsequences of molecular genetic manipulation, together with the biochemical, cytological and physiological processes, undernormal basal conditions and under specific stimuli or conditions such as stress