PUBLICATION

Loss of function of C9orf72 causes motor deficits in a zebrafish model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Authors
Ciura, S., Lattante, S., Le Ber, I., Latouche, M., Tostivint, H., Brice, A., and Kabashi, E.
ID
ZDB-PUB-130708-33
Date
2013
Source
Annals of neurology   74(2): 180-187 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Tostivint, Hervé
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/genetics*
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/pathology
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal/physiology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration/genetics*
  • Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration/pathology
  • Humans
  • Lymphocytes/metabolism
  • Lymphocytes/pathology
  • Motor Activity/genetics*
  • Proteins/genetics*
  • Zebrafish
  • Zebrafish Proteins/deficiency
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics*
PubMed
23720273 Full text @ Ann. Neurol.
Abstract

Objective

To define the role that repeat expansions of a GGGGCC hexanucleotide sequence of the C9orf72 gene play in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). A genetic model for ALS was developed to determine whether loss of function of the zebrafish orthologue of C9orf72 (zC9orf72) leads to abnormalities in neuronal development.

Methods

C9orf72 mRNA levels were quantified in brain and lymphoblasts derived from FTLD and ALS/FTLD patients and in zebrafish. Knockdown of the zC9orf72 was performed using 2 specific antisense morpholino oligonucleotides to block transcription. Quantifications of spontaneous swimming and tactile escape response, as well as measurements of axonal projections from the spinal cord, were performed.

Results

Significantly decreased expression of C9orf72 transcripts in brain and lymphoblasts was found in sporadic FTLD and ALS/FTLD patients with normal-size or expanded hexanucleotide repeats. The zC9orf72 is selectively expressed in the developing nervous system at developmental stages. Loss of function of the zC9orf72 transcripts causes both behavioral and cellular deficits related to locomotion without major morphological abnormalities. These deficits were rescued upon overexpression of human C9orf72 mRNA transcripts.

Interpretation

Our results indicate C9orf72 haploinsufficiency could be a contributing factor in the spectrum of ALS/FTLD neurodegenerative disorders. Loss of function of the zebrafish orthologue of zC9orf72 expression in zebrafish is associated with axonal degeneration of motor neurons that can be rescued by expressing human C9orf72 mRNA, highlighting the specificity of the induced phenotype. These results reveal a pathogenic consequence of decreased C9orf72 levels, supporting a loss of function mechanism of disease.

Genes / Markers
Figures
Show all Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping