Mice with megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with cysts: A developmental angle. Issue 1 (4th December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dubey, Mohit; Bugiani, Marianna; Ridder, Margreet C.; Postma, Nienke L.; Brouwers, Eelke; Polder, Emiel; Jacobs, J. Gerbren; Baayen, Johannes C.; Klooster, Jan; Kamermans, Maarten; Aardse, Romy; de Kock, Christiaan P. J.; Dekker, Marien P.; van Weering, Jan R. T.; Heine, Vivi M.; Abbink, Truus E. M.; Scheper, Gert C.; Boor, Ilja; Lodder, Johannes C.; Mansvelder, Huibert D.; van der Knaap, Marjo S.
• Is Part Of: Annals of neurology. Volume 77:Issue 1(2015:Jan.)
• Page Start: 114
• Page End: 131
• Publication Date: 2014-12-04
• Subjects: Neurology -- Periodicals; Pediatric neurology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1002/ana.24307
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0364-5134

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="ana24307-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>Megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with cysts (MLC) is a genetic disease characterized by infantile onset white matter edema and delayed onset neurological deterioration. Loss of MLC1 function causes MLC. MLC1 is involved in ion–water homeostasis, but its exact role is unknown. We generated <italic>Mlc1</italic>‐null mice for further studies.</p> </sec> <sec id="ana24307-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>We investigated which brain cell types express MLC1, compared developmental expression in mice and men, and studied the consequences of loss of MLC1 in <italic>Mlc1</italic>‐null mice.</p> </sec> <sec id="ana24307-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Like humans, mice expressed MLC1 only in astrocytes, especially those facing fluid–brain barriers. In mice, MLC1 expression increased until 3 weeks and then stabilized. In humans, MLC1 expression was highest in the first year, decreased, and stabilized from approximately 5 years. <italic>Mlc1‐</italic>null mice had early onset megalencephaly and increased brain water content. From 3 weeks, abnormal astrocytes were present with swollen processes abutting fluid–brain barriers. From 3 months, widespread white matter vacuolization with intramyelinic edema developed. <italic>Mlc1</italic>‐null astrocytes showed slowed regulatory volume decrease and reduced volume‐regulated anion currents, which increased upon MLC1 re‐expression. <italic>Mlc1</italic>‐null astrocytes showed reduced expression of adhesion molecule GlialCAM and chloride channel ClC‐2, but no substantial changes in other known MLC1‐interacting proteins.</p> </sec> <sec id="ana24307-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Interpretation</title> <p> <italic>Mlc1‐</italic>null mice replicate early stages of the human disease with early onset intramyelinic edema. The cellular functional defects, described for human MLC, were confirmed. The earliest change was astrocytic swelling, substantiating that in MLC the primary defect is in volume regulation by astrocytes. MLC1 expression affects expression of GlialCAM and ClC‐2. Abnormal interplay between these proteins is part of the pathomechanisms of MLC. ANN NEUROL 2015;77:114–131</p> </sec> </abstract>