Genes, Vol. 15, Pages 282: Effects of Paraquat, Dextran Sulfate Sodium, and Irradiation on Behavioral and Cognitive Performance and the Gut Microbiome in A53T and A53T-L444P Mice

Genes, Vol. 15, Pages 282: Effects of Paraquat, Dextran Sulfate Sodium, and Irradiation on Behavioral and Cognitive Performance and the Gut Microbiome in A53T and A53T-L444P Mice Genes doi: 10.3390/genes15030282 Authors: Ariel Chaklai Abigail O’Neil Shrey Goel Nick Margolies Destine Krenik Ruby Perez Kat Kessler Elizabeth Staltontall Hong Ki (Eric) Yoon Montzerrat Pantoja Keaton Stagaman Kristin Kasschau Vivek Unni Robert Duvoisin Thomas Sharpton Jacob Raber Heterozygous carriers of the glucocerebrosidase 1 (GBA) L444P Gaucher mutation have an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease (PD). The GBA mutations result in elevated alpha synuclein (aSyn) levels. Heterozygous mice carrying one allele with the L444P mutation knocked-into the mouse gene show increased aSyn levels and are more sensitive to motor deficits following exposure to the neurotoxin (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine) MPTP than wild-type mice. Paraquat (PQ), a herbicide, increases PD risk in most studies. Its effects on the brain involve alterations in the gut microbiome. Exposure to dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), a mouse model of colitis, can be used to determine whether gut microbiome alterations are sufficient to induce PD-relevant phenotypes. We rederived the A53T-L444P and A53T mouse lines to assess whether PQ, PQ in combination with radiation exposure (IR), and DSS have differential effects in A53T and A53T-L444P mice and whether thes...
Source: Genes - Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Tags: Article Source Type: research