Cited by 318Genetics and Neurodevelopmental DisordersNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchDown syndrome and intellectual disability research

Decreased expression of the GABAA receptor in fragile X syndrome

D'Hulst, Charlotte, De Geest, Natalie, Reeve, Simon P., Van Dam, Debby, De Deyn, Peter P., Hassan, Bassem A., Kooy, R. Frank·2006·Brain Research

Abstract

After our initial discovery of under expression of the GABA(A) receptor delta subunit in a genome wide screening for differentially expressed mRNAs in brain of fragile X mice, a validated model for fragile X mental retardation syndrome, we analyzed expression of the 17 remaining subunits of the GABA(A) receptor using real-time PCR. We confirmed nearly 50% under expression of the delta subunit and found a significant 35%-50% reduction in expression of 7 additional subunit mRNAs, namely alpha(1), alpha(3), and alpha(4), beta(1) and beta(2) and gamma(1) and gamma(2), in fragile X mice compared to wild-type littermates. In concordance with previous results, under expression was found in cortex, but not in cerebellum. Moreover, decreased expression of specific GABA(A) receptor subunits in fragile X syndrome seems to be an evolutionary conserved hallmark since in the fragile X fly (Drosophila melanogaster) model we also found almost 50% under expression of all 3 subunits which make up the invertebrate GABA receptor, namely Grd, Rdl and Lcch3. In addition, we demonstrated a direct correlation between the amount of dFmrp and the expression of the GABA receptor subunits Rdl and Grd. Our results add evidence to previous observations of an altered GABAergic system in fragile X syndrome. Because GABA(A) receptors are the major inhibitory receptors in brain, involved in anxiety, depression, insomnia, learning and memory and epilepsy, processes also disturbed in fragile X patients, the well described GABA(A) receptor pharmacology might open new powerful opportunities for treatment of the behavioral and epileptic phenotype associated with fragile X syndrome.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.brainres.2006.08.115

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  • The GABA receptor system is downregulated in fragile X syndrome, partially due to destabilization of mRNAs encoding GABA receptor subunits.

    “The GABA receptor system has also been reported as downregulated in FXS, partially due to destabilization of the mRNAs encoding the GABA receptor subunits (76,80,113).”

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Authors
D'Hulst, C., De Geest, N., Reeve, S. P., Van Dam, D., De Deyn, P. P., Hassan, B. A., & Kooy, R. F.
Affiliations
  • KU Leuven (BE)
  • University of Antwerp (BE)
Corresponding author
Kooy, R. Frank
Venue
Brain Research
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2006-11
Volume
1121
Issue
1
Pages
238-245
ISSN
0006-8993 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1972740284
Cited by
318
References
47
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 28 · 2014: 26 · 2013: 22 · 2012: 24
FWCI
4.35
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Brain Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Down syndrome and intellectual disability research
Keywords
fragile X syndrome, GABAA receptor, GABA receptor subunits, Drosophila, FMRP, GABAergic system, gene expression, cortex, cerebellum, epilepsy, anxiety, learning and memory
MeSH terms
Animals, Crosses, Genetic, Disease Models, Animal, Fragile X Syndrome, Gene Expression Regulation, Humans, Male, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Mutant Strains, Mutation, Receptors, GABA-A, RNA, Messenger, Down-Regulation, Mice, Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1

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