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. 2015 Mar 20;10(3):e0119491.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0119491. eCollection 2015.

Protein dynamics associated with failed and rescued learning in the Ts65Dn mouse model of Down syndrome

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Protein dynamics associated with failed and rescued learning in the Ts65Dn mouse model of Down syndrome

Md Mahiuddin Ahmed et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Down syndrome (DS) is caused by an extra copy of human chromosome 21 (Hsa21). Although it is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability (ID), there are, as yet, no effective pharmacotherapies. The Ts65Dn mouse model of DS is trisomic for orthologs of ∼55% of Hsa21 classical protein coding genes. These mice display many features relevant to those seen in DS, including deficits in learning and memory (L/M) tasks requiring a functional hippocampus. Recently, the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, memantine, was shown to rescue performance of the Ts65Dn in several L/M tasks. These studies, however, have not been accompanied by molecular analyses. In previous work, we described changes in protein expression induced in hippocampus and cortex in control mice after exposure to context fear conditioning (CFC), with and without memantine treatment. Here, we extend this analysis to Ts65Dn mice, measuring levels of 85 proteins/protein modifications, including components of MAP kinase and MTOR pathways, and subunits of NMDA receptors, in cortex and hippocampus of Ts65Dn mice after failed learning in CFC and after learning was rescued by memantine. We show that, compared with wild type littermate controls, (i) of the dynamic responses seen in control mice in normal learning, >40% also occur in Ts65Dn in failed learning or are compensated by baseline abnormalities, and thus are considered necessary but not sufficient for successful learning, and (ii) treatment with memantine does not in general normalize the initial protein levels but instead induces direct and indirect responses in approximately half the proteins measured and results in normalization of the endpoint protein levels. Together, these datasets provide a first view of the complexities associated with pharmacological rescue of learning in the Ts65Dn. Extending such studies to additional drugs and mouse models of DS will aid in identifying pharmacotherapies for effective clinical trials.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Relationships among pairwise group comparisons.
Eight groups of mice, control and Ts65Dn, not trained in CFC (SC, shock context) and trained in CFC (CS, context shock), injected with either saline or memantine, were generated. The four SC groups represent baseline (B) conditions and are shown in rectangles in the lower part of the figure. Three CS groups are shown in hexagons. Lines connecting groups indicate the nine pairwise comparisons of biological interest that are discussed here. Each comparison is labelled with the complete name and the abbreviated name used in the text. Summary data for all comparisons, except B-cm, are presented in Table 2 (for B-cm data, see reference 39). *, comparisons analyzed for data shown in Figs. 2–7. See Table 1 for additional information.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Patterns of protein responses normal in saline-treated Ts65Dn mice: necessary but not sufficient for learning.
NL, normal learning, saline treated control mice; FL, failed learning, saline treated Ts65Dn; B, baseline, saline treated Ts65Dn vs saline treated control mice; RL, rescued learning, memantine treated ts65Dn; B-tm, memantine response in Ts65Dn. (a)-(f): FL = NL and RL + B-tm = NL. (g)-(j): FL = 0, B = NL. (k)-(n): FL + B = NL and RL + B-tm + B = NL.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Patterns of protein responses: inadequate in saline treated Ts65Dn mice.
FL = 0, and RL + B + B-tm = NL. For abbreviations see Fig. 2.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Patterns of protein responses: abnormal in baseline and NL = 0.
(a), (b), normalized in FL and RL + B-tm; (c), (d), normalized in RL + B-tm only. For abbreviations see Fig. 2.
Fig 5
Fig 5. Patterns of protein responses: Hsa21-encoded proteins.
For abbreviations see Fig. 2.
Fig 6
Fig 6. Pattern of protein responses: NMDAR subunits in hippocampus.
For abbreviations see Fig. 2.
Fig 7
Fig 7. Patterns of protein responses: NMDAR subunits in cortex.
For abbreviations see Fig. 2.

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