Transgenic animal models for study of the pathogenesis of Huntington's disease and therapy

Abstract

Huntington's disease (HD) is caused by a genetic mutation that results in polyglutamine expansion in the N-terminal regions of huntingtin. As a result, this polyQ expansion leads to the misfolding and aggregation of mutant huntingtin as well as age-dependent neurodegeneration. The genetic mutation in HD allows for generating a variety of animal models that express different forms of mutant huntingtin and show differential pathology. Studies of these animal models have provided an important insight into the pathogenesis of HD. Mouse models of HD include transgenic mice, which express N-terminal or full-length mutant huntingtin ubiquitously or selectively in different cell types, and knock-in mice that express full-length mutant Htt at the endogenous level. Large animals, such as pig, sheep, and monkeys, have also been used to generate animal HD models. This review focuses on the different features of commonly used transgenic HD mouse models as well as transgenic large animal models of HD, and also discusses how to use them to identify potential therapeutics. Since HD shares many pathological features with other neurodegenerative diseases, identification of therapies for HD would also help to develop effective treatment for different neurodegenerative diseases that are also caused by protein misfolding and occur in an age-dependent manner.

Keywords: Huntington’s disease; pathogenesis; therapy; transgenic animal models.

Figure 1

Mouse models expressing mHtt in different types of neurons or glial cells show cell type-specific toxicity and synergistic effects of mHtt, indicating the importance of neuron–neuron and neuron-glia interactions in HD pathogenesis. Abbreviations: CPN, cortical projection neurons; MSN, medium spiny neurons.

Figure 2

Proteolysis of full-length mutant Htt generates N-terminal mutant Htt that affects multiple cellular functions, leading to excitotoxicity, mitochondrial deficit, inflammation, cellular dysfunction, and cell death, and pointing out a number of potential therapeutic targets.