Altered expression of Autism-associated genes in the brain of Fragile X mouse model

作者：Zhang, Aiying; Shen, Chang-Hui; Ma, Shuang Yong; Ke, Yang; El Idrissi, Abdeslem^*

来源：Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 2009, 379(4): 920-923.

DOI：10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.12.172

• Autism
• Fragile X
• WNT2
• MECP2
• FMR1
• Mutagegesis
• Real-time PCR

Autism is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder, which typically emerges in early childhood. Most cases of autism have not been linked to mutations in a specific gene, and the etioloty of the disorder remains to be established [S.S. Moy, J.J. Nadler, T.R. Magnuson, J.N. Crawley, Mouse models of autism spectrum disorders: the challenge for behavioral genetics, Am. J. Med. Genet. 142 (2006) 40-51]. Fragile X syndrome is caused by mutation in the FMR1 gene and is characterized by mental retardation, physical abnormalities, and, in most case, autistic-like behavior [R.J. Hagerman, A.W. Jackson, A. Levitas, B. Rimland, M. Braden, An analysis of autism in fifty males with the Fragile X syndrome, Am. J. Med. Genet. 23 (1986) 359-374, C.E. Bakker, C. Verheij, R. Willemsen, R. van der Heim, F. Oerlemans, M. Vermeij, A. Bygrave, A.T. Hoogeveen, B.A. Oostra, E. Reyniers, K De Boulle, R. D'Hooge, P. Cras, D. van Velzen, G. Nagels, J.J. Marti, P. De Deyn, J.K. Darby, P.J. Willems, Fmr1 knockout mice: a model to study Fragile X mental retardation, Cell 78 (1994) 23-33]. The FMR1 knockout (KC) mouse is one of the best characterized animal models for human disorders associated with autism [S.S. Moy,J.J. Nadler, T.R. Magnuson,J.N. Crawley, Mouse models Of autism spectrum disorders: the challenge for behavioral genetics, Am. J. Med. Genet. 142 (2006) 40-51]. We have used real-time PCR to investigate changes in expression levels of three genes: WNT2, MECP2, and FMR1 in different brain regions of Fagile X mice and litter mate controls. We found major changes in the expression pattern for the three genes examined. FMR1, MECP2, and WNT2 expression were drastically down regulated in the Fragile X mouse brain.

• 出版日期2009-2-20
• 单位北京大学