Murine models of the human porphyrias: Contributions towards understanding disease pathogenesis and the development of new therapies

Publication date: Available online 18 January 2019Source: Molecular Genetics and MetabolismAuthor(s): Makiko Yasuda, Robert J. DesnickAbstractMouse models of the human porphyrias have proven useful for investigations of disease pathogenesis and to facilitate the development of new therapeutic approaches. To date, mouse models have been generated for the major porphyrias, with the exception of X-linked protoporphyria (XLP) and the ultra rare 5-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase deficiency porphyria (ADP). Mouse models have been generated for all three autosomal dominant acute hepatic porphyrias, acute intermittent porphyria (AIP), hereditary coproporphyria (HCP), and variegate porphyria (VP). The AIP mice, in particular, provide a useful investigative model as they have been shown to have acute biochemical attacks when induced with the prototypic porphyrinogenic drug, phenobarbital. In addition to providing important insights into the disease pathogenesis of the neurological impairment in AIP, these mice have been valuable for preclinical evaluation of liver-targeted gene therapy and RNAi-mediated approaches. Mice with severe HMBS deficiency, which clinically and biochemically mimic the early-onset homozygous dominant AIP (HD-AIP) patients, have been generated and were used to elucidate the striking phenotypic differences between AIP and HD-AIP. Mice modeling the hepatocutaneous porphyria, porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT), made possible the identification of the iron-dependent inhib...

Source: Molecular Genetics and Metabolism - January 18, 2019 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Source Type: research