Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder. The debilitating choreic movements that plague HD patients have been attributed to striatal degeneration induced by the loss of cortically supplied brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Here, we show that in mouse models of early symptomatic HD, BDNF delivery to the striatum and its activation of tyrosine-related kinase B (TrkB) receptors were normal. However, in striatal neurons responsible for movement suppression, TrkB receptors failed to properly engage postsynaptic signaling mechanisms controlling the induction of potentiation at corticostriatal synapses. Plasticity was rescued by inhibiting p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) signaling or its downstream target phosphatase-and-tensin-homolog-deleted-on-chromosome-10 (PTEN). Thus, corticostriatal synaptic dysfunction early in HD is attributable to a correctable defect in the response to BDNF, not its delivery.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4131293PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2014.05.032DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

huntington's disease
8
bdnf delivery
8
trkb receptors
8
impaired trkb
4
trkb receptor
4
receptor signaling
4
signaling underlies
4
underlies corticostriatal
4
corticostriatal dysfunction
4
dysfunction huntington's
4

Similar Publications

Neurodegeneration in Huntington's disease (HD) is accompanied by the aggregation of fragments of the mutant huntingtin protein, a biomarker of disease progression. A particular pathogenic role has been attributed to the aggregation-prone huntingtin exon 1 (HTTex1), generated by aberrant splicing or proteolysis, and containing the expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) segment. Unlike amyloid fibrils from Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, the atomic-level structure of HTTex1 fibrils has remained unknown, limiting diagnostic and treatment efforts.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic neuromuscular disease associated with progressive loss of motor function. Risdiplam, a daily oral therapy, was approved in the United States for the treatment of SMA. Risdiplam's effectiveness depends on patient adherence to the treatment regimen.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Decoding TDP-43: the molecular chameleon of neurodegenerative diseases.

Acta Neuropathol Commun

December 2024

Shenzhen Baoan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guang Dong, 518000, China.

TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) has emerged as a critical player in neurodegenerative disorders, with its dysfunction implicated in a wide spectrum of diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), and Alzheimer's disease (AD). This comprehensive review explores the multifaceted roles of TDP-43 in both physiological and pathological contexts. We delve into TDP-43's crucial functions in RNA metabolism, including splicing regulation, mRNA stability, and miRNA biogenesis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Pleiotropic effects of mutant huntingtin on retinopathy in two mouse models of Huntington's disease.

Neurobiol Dis

December 2024

Department of Physiology & Neuroscience, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. Electronic address:

Huntington's disease (HD) is caused by the expansion of a CAG repeat, encoding a string of glutamines (polyQ) in the first exon of the huntingtin gene (HTTex1). This mutant huntingtin protein (mHTT) with extended polyQ forms aggregates in cortical and striatal neurons, causing cell damage and death. The retina is part of the central nervous system (CNS), and visual deficits and structural abnormalities in the retina of HD patients have been observed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Very rarely, adult NMDAR antibody-associated encephalitis (NMDAR-E) leads to persistent cerebellar atrophy and ataxia. Transient cerebellar ataxia is common in pediatric NMDAR-E. Immune-mediated cerebellar ataxia may be associated with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), aquaporin-4 (AQP-4), kelch-like family member 11 (KLHL11), and glutamate kainate receptor subunit 2 (GluK2) antibodies, all of which may co-occur in NMDAR-E.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!