A multiple animal and cellular models approach to study frataxin deficiency in Friedreich Ataxia

Valentine Mosbach, Hélène Puccio, A multiple animal and cellular models approach to study frataxin deficiency in Friedreich Ataxia, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Cell Research, Volume 1871, Issue 7, 2024, 119809, ISSN 0167-4889, doi:10.1016/j.bbamcr.2024.119809. 

 Over the years, several cellular and animal models for FA have been developed. These models are all complementary and possess their own strengths to investigate different aspects of the disease, such as the epigenetics of the locus or the pathophysiology of the disease, as well as being used to developed novel therapeutic approaches. This review will explore the recent advancements in the different mammalian models developed for FA.

NAD+ precursors prolong survival and improve cardiac phenotypes in a mouse model of Friedreich’s Ataxia

NAD+ precursors prolong survival and improve cardiac phenotypes in a mouse model of Friedreich’s Ataxia, Caroline E. Perry, … , David R. Lynch, Joseph A. Baur. Published August 22, 2024, Citation Information: JCI Insight. 2024;9(16):e177152. doi:10.1172/jci.insight.177152. 

Administering nicotinamide mononucleotide or riboside to shFxn mice increases survival, modestly improves cardiac hypertrophy, and limits increases in ejection fraction. Mechanistically, most of the transcriptional and metabolic changes induced by frataxin knockdown are insensitive to NAD+ precursor administration, but glutathione levels are increased, suggesting improved antioxidant capacity. Overall, our findings indicate that NAD+ precursors are modestly cardioprotective in this model of FRDA and warrant further investigation.