Sensory-motor circuit is a therapeutic target for dystonia musculorum mice, a model of hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy 6

Sci Adv. 2024 Jul 26;10(30):eadj9335. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adj9335. Epub 2024 Jul 26.

Abstract

Mutations in Dystonin (DST), which encodes cytoskeletal linker proteins, cause hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy 6 (HSAN-VI) in humans and the dystonia musculorum (dt) phenotype in mice; however, the neuronal circuit underlying the HSAN-VI and dt phenotype is unresolved. dt mice exhibit dystonic movements accompanied by the simultaneous contraction of agonist and antagonist muscles and postnatal lethality. Here, we identified the sensory-motor circuit as a major causative neural circuit using a gene trap system that enables neural circuit-selective inactivation and restoration of Dst by Cre-mediated recombination. Sensory neuron-selective Dst deletion led to motor impairment, degeneration of proprioceptive sensory neurons, and disruption of the sensory-motor circuit. Restoration of Dst expression in sensory neurons using Cre driver mice or a single postnatal injection of Cre-expressing adeno-associated virus ameliorated sensory degeneration and improved abnormal movements. These findings demonstrate that the sensory-motor circuit is involved in the movement disorders in dt mice and that the sensory circuit is a therapeutic target for HSAN-VI.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dependovirus / genetics
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Dystonia / genetics
  • Dystonin* / genetics
  • Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathies* / genetics
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Phenotype
  • Sensory Receptor Cells* / metabolism

Substances

  • Dystonin
  • Dst protein, mouse