A transgenic mouse model for human hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies

Peter R. Maycox, Daniel Ortuño, Patrick Burrola, Rainer Kuhn, Phyllis L. Bieri, Joseph C. Arrezo, Greg Lemke

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mutations in the gene encoding peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22) account for several inherited peripheral neuropathies in humans. We now show that transgenic mice expressing antisense PMP22 RNA exhibit modestly reduced levels of PMP22 together with a phenotype that is reminiscent of hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies (HNPP), a human disease caused by a 1.5-Mb deletion of a chromosome 17 region that contains the PMP22 gene. Transgenic antisense homozygotes display a striking movement disorder and a slowing of nerve conduction that worsens with age. Morphological analysis of peripheral nerves demonstrates that a subset of axons have thickened myelin sheaths and tomacula in young adults, with significant myelin degeneration detected in older animals. Together with other recent work, these data suggest that dosage of the PMP22 gene alone underlies the pathophysiology observed in HNPP and related disorders.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)405-416
Number of pages12
JournalMolecular and Cellular Neurosciences
Volume8
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1997

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology

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