Apoptotic cell death in mouse models of GM2 gangliosidosis and observations on human Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff diseases |
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Authors: | Huang JQ; Trasler JM; Igdoura S; Michaud J; Hanal N; Gravel RA |
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Affiliation: | McGill University-Montreal Children's Hospital Research Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. |
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Abstract: | Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff diseases are autosomal recessive neurodegenerative
diseases resulting from the inability to catabolize GM2 ganglioside by
beta-hexosaminidase A (Hex A) due to mutations of the alpha subunit
(Tay-Sachs disease) or beta subunit (Sandhoff disease) of Hex A. Hex B
(beta beta homodimer) is also defective in Sandhoff disease. We previously
developed mouse models of both diseases and showed that Hexa-/- (Tay-Sachs)
mice remain asymptomatic to at least 1 year of age while Hexb-/- (Sandhoff)
mice succumb to a profound neurodegenerative disease by 4-6 months of age.
Here we find that neuron death in Hexb-/- mice is associated with apoptosis
occurring throughout the CNS, while Hexa-/- mice were minimally involved at
the same age. Studies of autopsy samples of brain and spinal cord from
human Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff diseases revealed apoptosis in both instances,
in keeping with the severe expression of both diseases. We suggest that
neuron death is caused by unscheduled apoptosis, implicating accumulated
GM2 ganglioside or a derivative in triggering of the apoptotic cascade.
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