Author Profile

Jonathan Fox

https://sites.google.com/site/foxhttlab/

Affiliation: Neuroscience Graduate Program, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA

I study Huntington's disease mainly utilizing mouse models. We use genetic cross studies and small molecules to investigate mechanisms and identify potential disease modifying interventions. A new endeavor is identifying environmental modifiers of HD which account for effects on age of onset.

Recent Posts

Thiol-disulfide Oxidoreductases TRX1 and TMX3 Decrease Neuronal Atrophy in a Lentiviral Mouse Model of Huntington’s Disease

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Huntington’s disease (HD) is caused by a trinucleotide CAG repeat in the huntingtin gene (HTT) that results in expression of a polyglutamine-expanded mutant huntingtin protein (mHTT). N-terminal fragments of mHTT accumulate in brain neurons and glia as soluble monomeric and oligomeric species as well as insoluble protein aggregates and drive the disease process. Decreasing mHTT levels in brain provides protection and reversal of disease signs in HD mice making mHTT a prime target for disease modification. There is evidence for aberrant thiol oxidation within mHTT and other proteins in HD models. Based on this, we hypothesized that a specific thiol-disulfide oxidoreductase exists that decreases mHTT levels in cells and provides protection in HD mice. We undertook an in-vitro genetic screen of key thiol-disulfide oxidoreductases then completed secondary screens to identify those with mHTT decreasing properties. Our in-vitro experiments identified thioredoxin 1 and thioredoxin-related transmembrane protein 3 as proteins that decrease soluble mHTT levels in cultured cells. Using a lentiviral mouse model of HD we tested the effect of these proteins in striatum. Both proteins decreased mHTT-induced striatal neuronal atrophy. Findings provide evidence for a role of dysregulated protein-thiol homeostasis in the pathogenesis of HD.

Characterization of Striatal Neuronal Loss and Atrophy in the R6/2 Mouse Model of Huntington’s Disease

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Striatal neuronal degeneration and loss is an important feature of human Huntington’s disease (HD). R6/2 HD mice recapitulate many features of human HD including striatal atrophy. While striatal neuronal atrophy and loss is reported in R6/2 HD mice the degree of neuronal loss and the characteristics of cell body atrophy are unclear. We used stereological approaches to estimate whole striatal neuronal numbers and characterize changes in striatal neuronal size distribution. R6/2 HD mice had ~126000 fewer neurons per striatum (~12% decline) at 12 weeks of age than wild-type litter-mates; differences were not present at 5 weeks. Analysis of striatal neuronal numbers per cell body size category revealed declines in neuron numbers in the size ranges 550-1050 µm3 suggesting that larger striatal neurons are more susceptible to atrophy or loss in late stages of disease. R6/2 HD mice have a striatal neuronal loss phenotype. As striatal neuronal loss in human HD is dramatic, neuronal loss in R6/2 striatum provides an important late-stage outcome measure for study of disease modifying interventions