CNS expression of glucocerebrosidase corrects α-synuclein pathology and memory in a mouse model of Gaucher-related synucleinopathy

SP Sardi, J Clarke, C Kinnecom… - Proceedings of the …, 2011 - National Acad Sciences
SP Sardi, J Clarke, C Kinnecom, TJ Tamsett, L Li, LM Stanek, MA Passini, GA Grabowski…
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2011National Acad Sciences
Emerging genetic and clinical evidence suggests a link between Gaucher disease and the
synucleinopathies Parkinson disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. Here, we provide
evidence that a mouse model of Gaucher disease (Gba1D409V/D409V) exhibits
characteristics of synucleinopathies, including progressive accumulation of proteinase K-
resistant α-synuclein/ubiquitin aggregates in hippocampal neurons and a coincident
memory deficit. Analysis of homozygous (Gba1D409V/D409V) and heterozygous …
Emerging genetic and clinical evidence suggests a link between Gaucher disease and the synucleinopathies Parkinson disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. Here, we provide evidence that a mouse model of Gaucher disease (Gba1D409V/D409V) exhibits characteristics of synucleinopathies, including progressive accumulation of proteinase K-resistant α-synuclein/ubiquitin aggregates in hippocampal neurons and a coincident memory deficit. Analysis of homozygous (Gba1D409V/D409V) and heterozygous (Gba1D409V/+ and Gba1+/−) Gaucher mice indicated that these pathologies are a result of the combination of a loss of glucocerebrosidase activity and a toxic gain-of-function resulting from expression of the mutant enzyme. Importantly, adeno-associated virus-mediated expression of exogenous glucocerebrosidase injected into the hippocampus of Gba1D409V/D409V mice ameliorated both the histopathological and memory aberrations. The data support the contention that mutations in GBA1 can cause Parkinson disease-like α-synuclein pathology, and that rescuing brain glucocerebrosidase activity might represent a therapeutic strategy for GBA1-associated synucleinopathies.
National Acad Sciences