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Pathogenesis of brain dysfunction in Batten disease
S U Walkley1, P A March, C E Schroeder
1Department of Neuroscience, Rose F. Kennedy Center for Research in Mental Retardation and Human Development, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461, USA.
American Journal of Medical Genetics
|June 5, 1995
Summary
Animal models reveal Batten disease pathology differs from other neuronal storage disorders. Neuron death in Batten disease may result from excitotoxicity due to mitochondrial dysfunction and inhibitory neuron loss.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Batten disease and other neuronal storage disorders involve progressive intraneuronal storage.
- Cellular pathology in Batten disease is distinct from lysosomal hydrolase deficiency disorders.
- Lysosomal accumulation in the cerebral cortex is a hallmark of Batten disease, unlike most other storage disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the unique cellular pathology of Batten disease.
- To compare Batten disease pathogenesis with other neuronal storage disorders.
- To elucidate mechanisms underlying neuron death in Batten disease.
Main Methods:
- Utilized animal models of Batten disease and related neuronal storage disorders.
- Performed comparative analysis of cellular pathology across different storage disorders.
- Examined mechanisms of neuronal dysfunction and death.
Main Results:
- Batten disease exhibits distinct cellular pathology compared to other lysosomal storage disorders.
- Significant lysosomal accumulation in specific brain regions is characteristic of Batten disease.
- Neuron death in Batten disease may involve excitotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and loss of inhibitory neurons.
Conclusions:
- Batten disease shares features with human neurodegenerative diseases.
- Excitotoxicity, secondary to mitochondrial dysfunction and GABAergic cell loss, is a potential driver of neuron death in Batten disease.