title: Gene expression and mRNA editing of serotonin receptor 2C in brains of HPRT gene knock-out mice, an animal model of Lesch-Nyhan disease.
abstract: Lesch-Nyhan disease (LND), a genetic disorder associated with motor and psychiatric disturbance and self-injurious behaviour (SIB) is caused by a complete deficiency of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT). The connection between enzyme deficiency and neurological involvement is still unclear. Evidence exists for a role of basal ganglia dysfunction with decreased dopamine and excess serotonin striatal content. In this study, we investigate the role of serotonin receptor 2C (HTR2C) in the brains of HPRT gene knock-out mice, a model of LND. HTR2C expression is analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using SYBR-green detection methods. The percentage of edited HTR2C mRNA was determined by direct sequencing of amplification products of the region containing the editing sites. We found a 55% increase in the expression of HTR2C gene but no significant difference in mRNA editing levels between knock-out and control mice. The above alteration found in HPRT-deficient mice is similar to those found in other animal models used to study aggressive and self-injurious behaviour.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, International Association of Medical Genetics, Trento, Italy. info@assomagi.org
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bertelli
authors.forename: Brunilda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Alushi
authors.forename: Arsenio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Veicsteinas
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Jinnah
authors.forename: Vanna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Micheli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015870:Gene Expression; D007041:Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D007926:Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D017393:RNA Editing; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D044405:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D044405:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C; D007041:Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase