Disruption of Krox20-Nab interaction in the mouse leads to peripheral neuropathy with biphasic evolution

J Neurosci. 2008 Jun 4;28(23):5891-900. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5187-07.2008.

Abstract

Krox20/Egr2 is a zinc finger transcription factor that plays essential roles in several developmental processes, including peripheral nervous system myelination by Schwann cells, where it acts as a master gene regulator. Krox20 is known to interact with cofactors of the Nab family and a mutation affecting isoleucine 268, which prevents this interaction, has been shown to result in congenital hypomyelinating neuropathy in humans. To further investigate the role of this interaction, we have introduced such a mutation, Krox20(I268F), in the mouse germ line. Clinical, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural analyses of the homozygous mutants reveal that they develop a severe hypomyelination phenotype that mimics the human syndrome. Furthermore, a time-course analysis of the disease indicates that it follows a biphasic evolution, the hypomyelination phase being followed by a dramatic demyelination. Although for the regulation of most analyzed Krox20 target genes the mutation behaves as a loss of function, this is not the case for a few of them. This differential effect indicates that the molecular function of the Krox20-Nab interaction is target dependent and might explain the degradation of the residual myelin, because of imbalances in its composition. In conclusion, this work provides a novel and useful model for severe human peripheral neuropathies.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Substitution / genetics*
  • Animals
  • COS Cells
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Early Growth Response Protein 2 / genetics*
  • Early Growth Response Protein 2 / metabolism
  • Female
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics*
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism
  • Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / pathology
  • Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / physiology
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / genetics*
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / metabolism
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / pathology
  • Protein Binding / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics*
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Early Growth Response Protein 2
  • Nab1 protein, mouse
  • Nab2 protein, mouse
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins