title: Huntingtin fragmentation and increased caspase 3, 8 and 9 activities in lymphoblasts with heterozygous and homozygous Huntington's disease mutation.
abstract: Huntington's disease (HD) is caused by mutated huntingtin (htt), a toxic protein ubiquitously expressed in nervous and non-nervous system tissues. Fragmentation of htt by caspases and further accumulation in cells of protein aggregates contribute to cell dysfunction and death. In the attempt to elucidate whether this mechanism depends on patients' genotype, we analysed the pattern of htt fragmentation, the caspase 3, 8 and 9 activities and their variation in lymphoblasts with heterozygous and homozygous CAG mutation and in controls. Cells homozygous for expanded mutation showed greater amount of mutated fragments than heterozygotes and controls, caspase 3, 8 and 9 activities greater in mutated than control cell lines, after cyanide treatment, the caspase 3 and 8 particularly increased in homozygotes. This data offers a biological explanation to the clinical in-patients evidence of mutation homozygosity associated with more severe phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Neurogenetics Unit, IRCCS INM Neuromed, Località Camerelle 86077, Pozzilli, IS, Italy.
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Maglione
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cannella
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gradini
authors.forename: Giuliana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cislaghi
authors.forename: Ferdinando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Squitieri
mesh_terms: D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D000071058:Huntingtin Protein; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009154:Mutation; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational
chemical_list: C086055:HTT protein, human; D000071058:Huntingtin Protein; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D020169:Caspases