A role for astrocytes in cerebellar deficits in frataxin deficiency: Protection by insulin-like growth factor I

C Franco, L Genis, JA Navarro, P Perez-Domper, AM Fernandez, S Schneuwly, I Torres Alemán, Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, Available online 7 March 2017, ISSN 1044-7431, doi:10.1016/j.mcn.2017.02.008.

Inherited neurodegenerative diseases such as Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA), produced by deficiency of the mitochondrial chaperone frataxin (Fxn), shows specific neurological deficits involving different subset of neurons even though deficiency of Fxn is ubiquitous. We also tested whether insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), that has proven effective in increasing frataxin levels both in neurons and in astrocytes, also exerts in vivo protective actions. A similar time-dependent effect of frataxin deficiency in astrocytes was observed in a fly model. In addition, treatment of FGKO mice with IGF-I improved their motor performance, reduced cerebellar atrophy, and increased survival. These observations indicate that a greater vulnerability of developing cerebellar astrocytes to Fxn deficiency may contribute to cerebellar deficits in this inherited disease. Our data also confirm a therapeutic benefit of IGF-I in early FRDA deficiency.


A role for astrocytes in cerebellar deficits in frataxin deficiency: Protection by insulin-like growth factor I