RGD Reference Report - Lack of aspartoacylase activity disrupts survival and differentiation of neural progenitors and oligodendrocytes in a mouse model of Canavan disease. - Rat Genome Database

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Lack of aspartoacylase activity disrupts survival and differentiation of neural progenitors and oligodendrocytes in a mouse model of Canavan disease.

Authors: Kumar, S  Biancotti, JC  Matalon, R  De Vellis, J 
Citation: Kumar S, etal., J Neurosci Res. 2009 Nov 15;87(15):3415-27.
RGD ID: 5686858
Pubmed: PMID:19739253   (View Abstract at PubMed)
DOI: DOI:10.1002/jnr.22233   (Journal Full-text)

Loss of the oligodendrocyte (OL)-specific enzyme aspartoacylase (ASPA) from gene mutation results in the sponginess and loss of white matter (WM) in Canavan disease (CD). This study addresses the fate of OLs during the pathophysiology of CD in an adult ASPA knockout (KO) mouse strain. Massive arrays of neural stem/progenitor cells, immunopositive for PSA-NCAM, nestin, vimentin, and NG2, were observed within the severely affected spongy WM of the KO mouse brain. In these mice, G1-->S cell cycle progression was confirmed by an increase in cdk2-kinase activity, a reduction in mitotic inhibitors p21(Cip1) and p27(Kip1), and an increase in bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation. Highly acetylated nuclear histones H2B and H3 were detected in adult KO mouse WM, suggesting the existence of noncompact chromatin as seen during early development. Costaining for BrdU- or Ki67-positive cells with markers for neural progenitors confirmed a continuous generation of OL lineage cells in KO WM. We observed a severe reduction in 21.5- and 18.5-kDa myelin basic protein and PLP/DM20 proteolipid proteins combined with a decrease in myelinated fibers and a perinuclear retention of myelin protein staining, indicating impairment in protein trafficking. Death of OLs, neurons, and astrocytes was identified in every region of the KO brain. Immature OLs constituted the largest population of dying cells, particularly in WM. We also report an early expression of full-length ASPA mRNA in normal mouse brain at embryonic day 12.5, when OL progenitors first appear during development. These findings support involvement of ASPA in CNS development and function.

RGD Manual Disease Annotations    Click to see Annotation Detail View
TermQualifierEvidenceWithReferenceNotesSourceOriginal Reference(s)
Canavan disease  ISOCspg4 (Mus musculus)5686858; 5686858 RGD 
Canavan disease  IGIAspa (Mus musculus)5686858 RGD 

Objects Annotated

Genes (Rattus norvegicus)
Cspg4  (chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4)

Genes (Mus musculus)
Cspg4  (chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4)

Genes (Homo sapiens)
CSPG4  (chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4)


Additional Information