Optimizing Mouse Models of Neurodegenerative Disorders

Optimizing Mouse Models of Neurodegenerative Disorders. Future Neurology. Cathleen M Lutz, Melissa A Osborne; Future Neurology. 2014;9(1):67-75.

This experience in SMA raises interesting questions for FRDA. Does such a threshold also exist in FRDA models, where no or too low frataxin results in embryonic lethality, but levels of 10% or more result in mice that are phenotypcially normal? Can mice simply tolerate low levels of frataxin? Alternatively, perhaps FRDA is not just a disease of low frataxin protein, but insread is one in which the GAA repeat itself plays a greater role in the disease course, beyond just inhibiting transcription. Would mouse models of higher repeat length or uninterupted repeats produce a more robust phenotype? Additional FRDA models are desperately needed in order to help address these questions.