Ucp4 Knockdown of Cerebellar Purkinje Cells Induces Bradykinesia

Although uncoupling protein 4 (UCP4) is the most abundant protein reported in the brain, the biological function of UCP4 in cerebellum and pathological outcome of UCP4 deficiency in cerebellum remain obscure. To evaluate the role of Ucp4 in the cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs), we generated the conditional knockdown of Ucp4 in PCs (Pcp2^cre;Ucp4^fl/fl mice) by breeding Ucp4^fl/fl mice with Pcp2^cre mice. Series results by Western blot, immunofluorescent staining, and triple RNAscope in situ hybridization confirmed the specific ablation of Ucp4 in PCs in Pcp2^cre;Ucp4^fl/fl mice, but did not affect the expression of Ucp2, the analog of Ucp4. Combined behavioral tests showed that Pcp2^cre;Ucp4^fl/fl mice displayed a characteristic bradykinesia in the spontaneous movements. The electromyogram recordings detection excluded the possibility of hypotonia in Pcp2^cre;Ucp4^fl/fl mice. And the electrical patch clamp recordings showed the altered properties of PCs in Pcp2^cre;Ucp4^fl/fl mice. Moreover, transmission electron microscope (TEM) results showed the increased mitochondrial circularity in PCs; ROS probe imaging showed the increased ROS generation in molecular layer; and finally, microplate reader assay showed the significant changes of mitochondrial functions, including ROS, ATP, and MMP in the isolated cerebellum tissue. The results suggested that the specific knockdown of mitochondrial protein Ucp4 could damage PCs possibly by attacking their mitochondrial function. The present study is the first to report a close relationship between UCP4 deletion with PCs impairment, and suggests the importance of UCP4 in the substantial support of mitochondrial function homeostasis in bradykinesia. UCP4 might be a therapeutic target for the cerebellar-related movement disorder.