RNA interference improves motor and neuropathological abnormalities in a Huntington's disease mouse model

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Apr 19;102(16):5820-5. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0501507102. Epub 2005 Apr 5.

Abstract

Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal, dominant neurogenetic disorder. HD results from polyglutamine repeat expansion (CAG codon, Q) in exon 1 of HD, conferring a toxic gain of function on the protein huntingtin (htt). Currently, no preventative treatment exists for HD. RNA interference (RNAi) has emerged as a potential therapeutic tool for treating dominant diseases by directly reducing disease gene expression. Here, we show that RNAi directed against mutant human htt reduced htt mRNA and protein expression in cell culture and in HD mouse brain. Importantly, htt gene silencing improved behavioral and neuropathological abnormalities associated with HD. Our data provide support for the further development of RNAi for HD therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Gene Silencing
  • Gene Transfer Techniques
  • Genetic Therapy
  • Humans
  • Huntingtin Protein
  • Huntington Disease / genetics*
  • Huntington Disease / pathology*
  • Huntington Disease / therapy
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Motor Activity / physiology
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • RNA Interference*

Substances

  • HTT protein, human
  • Htt protein, mouse
  • Huntingtin Protein
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins