Persistent Unresolved Inflammation in the Mecp2-308 Female Mutated Mouse Model of Rett Syndrome

الملخص EN

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder usually caused by mutations in the X-linked gene methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2).

Several Mecp2 mutant mouse lines have been developed recapitulating part of the clinical features.

In particular, Mecp2-308 female heterozygous mice, bearing a truncating mutation, are a validated model of the disease.

While recent data suggest a role for inflammation in RTT, little information on the inflammatory status in murine models of the disease is available.

Here, we investigated the inflammatory status by proteomic 2-DE/MALDI-ToF/ToF analyses in symptomatic Mecp2-308 female mice.

Ten differentially expressed proteins were evidenced in the Mecp2-308 mutated plasma proteome.

In particular, 5 positive acute-phase response (APR) proteins increased (i.e., kininogen-1, alpha-fetoprotein, mannose-binding protein C, alpha-1-antitrypsin, and alpha-2-macroglobulin), and 3 negative APR reactants were decreased (i.e., serotransferrin, albumin, and apolipoprotein A1).

CD5 antigen-like and vitamin D-binding protein, two proteins strictly related to inflammation, were also changed.

These results indicate for the first time a persistent unresolved inflammation of unknown origin in the Mecp2-308 mouse model.