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Liang JH, Alevy J, Akhanov V, Seo R, Massey CA, Jiang D, Zhou J, Sillitoe RV, Noebels JL, Samuel MA. Kctd7 deficiency induces myoclonic seizures associated with Purkinje cell death and microvascular defects. Dis Model Mech 2022; 15:dmm049642. [PMID: 35972048 PMCID: PMC9509889 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the potassium channel tetramerization domain-containing 7 (KCTD7) gene are associated with a severe neurodegenerative phenotype characterized by childhood onset of progressive and intractable myoclonic seizures accompanied by developmental regression. KCTD7-driven disease is part of a large family of progressive myoclonic epilepsy syndromes displaying a broad spectrum of clinical severity. Animal models of KCTD7-related disease are lacking, and little is known regarding how KCTD7 protein defects lead to epilepsy and cognitive dysfunction. We characterized Kctd7 expression patterns in the mouse brain during development and show that it is selectively enriched in specific regions as the brain matures. We further demonstrate that Kctd7-deficient mice develop seizures and locomotor defects with features similar to those observed in human KCTD7-associated diseases. We also show that Kctd7 is required for Purkinje cell survival in the cerebellum and that selective degeneration of these neurons is accompanied by defects in cerebellar microvascular organization and patterning. Taken together, these results define a new model for KCTD7-associated epilepsy and identify Kctd7 as a modulator of neuron survival and excitability linked to microvascular alterations in vulnerable regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justine H. Liang
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jonathan Alevy
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Viktor Akhanov
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ryan Seo
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Developmental Neurogenetics Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Cory A. Massey
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Developmental Neurogenetics Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Danye Jiang
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Joy Zhou
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute of Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Roy V. Sillitoe
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute of Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jeffrey L. Noebels
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Developmental Neurogenetics Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Melanie A. Samuel
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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