A mouse model of classical late-infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis based on targeted disruption of the CLN2 gene results in a loss of tripeptidyl-peptidase I activity and progressive neurodegeneration.
Mutations in the CLN2 gene, which encodes a lysosomal serine protease, tripeptidyl-peptidase I (TPP I), result in an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disease of children, classical late-infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (cLINCL). cLINCL is inevitably fatal, and there currently exists no cure or effective treatment. In this report, we provide the characterization of the first CLN2-targeted mouse model for cLINCL. CLN2-targeted mice were fertile and apparently healthy at birth despite an absence of detectable TPP I activity. At approximately 7 weeks of age, neurological deficiencies became evident with the onset of a tremor that became progressively more severe and was eventually accompanied by ataxia. Lifespan of the affected mice was greatly reduced (median survival, 138 d), and extensive neuronal pathology was observed including a prominent accumulation of cytoplasmic storage material within the lysosomal-endosomal compartment, a loss of cerebellar Purkinje cells, and widespread axonal degeneration. The CLN2-targeted mouse therefore recapitulates much of the pathology and clinical features of cLINCL and represents an animal model that should provide clues to the normal cellular function of TPP I and the pathogenic processes that underlie neuronal death in its absence. In addition, the CLN2-targeted mouse also represents a valuable model for the evaluation of different therapeutic strategies.
Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA. sleat@cabm.rutgers.edu
David E
DE
Sleat
Jennifer A
JA
Wiseman
Mukarram
M
El-Banna
Kwi-Hye
KH
Kim
Qinwen
Q
Mao
Sandy
S
Price
Shannon L
SL
Macauley
Richard L
RL
Sidman
Michael M
MM
Shen
Qi
Q
Zhao
Marco A
MA
Passini
Beverly L
BL
Davidson
Gregory R
GR
Stewart
Peter
P
Lobel
D000626:Aminopeptidases; D000818:Animals; D001259:Ataxia / Q000235:genetics; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002999:Clone Cells; D004152:Dipeptidyl-Peptidases and Tripeptidyl-Peptidases; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics*; D011992:Endosomes / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D018390:Gene Targeting; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000235:genetics; D009472:Neuronal Ceroid-Lipofuscinoses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000473:pathology; D012640:Seizures / Q000235:genetics; D057057:Serine Proteases; D015996:Survival Rate; D014202:Tremor / Q000235:genetics; D000091346:Tripeptidyl-Peptidase 1
C000717268:Tpp1 protein, mouse; D000091346:Tripeptidyl-Peptidase 1; D010450:Endopeptidases; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D057057:Serine Proteases; D000626:Aminopeptidases; D004152:Dipeptidyl-Peptidases and Tripeptidyl-Peptidases