| First Author | Noma S | Year | 2012 |
| Journal | Neurosci Res | Volume | 73 |
| Issue | 2 | Pages | 115-21 |
| PubMed ID | 22426494 | Mgi Jnum | J:185460 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5428811 | Doi | 10.1016/j.neures.2012.03.001 |
| Citation | Noma S, et al. (2012) Overexpression of HGF attenuates the degeneration of Purkinje cells and Bergmann glia in a knockin mouse model of spinocerebellar ataxia type 7. Neurosci Res 73(2):115-21 |
| abstractText | Spinocerebellar ataxia type 7 (SCA7) is an autosomal dominant disorder associated with cerebellar neurodegeneration caused by expansion of a CAG repeat in the ataxin-7 gene. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), a pleiotrophic growth factor, displays highly potent neurotrophic activities on cerebellar neurons. A mutant c-met/HGF receptor knockin mouse model has revealed a role for HGF in the postnatal development of the cerebellum. The present study was designed to elucidate the effect of HGF on cerebellar neurodegeneration in a knockin mouse model of SCA7 (SCA7-KI mouse). SCA7-KI mice were crossed with transgenic mice overexpressing HGF (HGF-Tg mice) to produce SCA7-KI/HGF-Tg mice that were used to examine the phenotypic differences following HGF overexpression. The Purkinje cellular degeneration is thought to occur via cell-autonomous and non-cell autonomous mechanisms mediated by a reduction of glutamate transporter levels in Bergmann glia. The Purkinje cellular degeneration and reduced expression of glutamate transporters in the cerebellum of SCA7-KI mice were largely attenuated in the SCA7-KI/HGF-Tg mice. Moreover, phenotypic impairments exhibited by SCA7-KI mice during rotarod tests were alleviated in SCA7-KI/HGF-Tg mice. The bifunctional nature of HGF on both Purkinje cells and Bergmann glia highlight the potential therapeutic utility of this molecule for the treatment of SCA7 and related disorders. |
