Delineating regional vulnerability in the neurodegenerative disease SCA1 using a conditional mutant ATXN1 mouse

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by an expanded polyglutamine tract in the widely expressed ATXN1 protein. To elucidate anatomical regions and cell types that underlie mutant ATXN1-induced disease phenotypes, we developed a floxed conditional knockout mouse model ( f-ATXN1 ^146Q/2Q ) having mouse Atxn1 coding exons replaced by human exons encoding 146 glutamines. F-ATXN1 ^146Q/2Q mice manifest SCA1-like phenotypes including motor and cognitive deficits, wasting, and decreased survival. CNS contributions to disease were revealed using ATXN1 ^146Q/2Q ; Nestin-Cre mice, that showed improved rotarod, open field and Barnes maze performances. Striatal contributions to motor deficits were examined using f-ATXN1 ^146Q/2Q ; Rgs9-Cre mice. Mice lacking striatal ATXN1 ^146Q/2Q had improved rotarod performance late in disease. Muscle contributions to disease were revealed in f-ATXN1 ^146Q/2Q ; ACTA1-Cre mice which lacked muscle pathology and kyphosis seen in f-ATXN1 ^146Q/2Q mice. Kyphosis was not improved in f-ATXN1 ^146Q/2Q ;Nestin _- Cre mice. Thus, optimal SCA1 therapeutics will require targeting mutant ATXN1 toxic actions in multiple brain regions and muscle.