Lack of effect from genetic deletion of Hdac6 in a humanized mouse model of CMT2D

Background

Inhibition of HDAC6 has been proposed as a broadly applicable therapeutic strategy for Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease (CMT). Inhibition of HDAC6 increases the acetylation of proteins important in axonal trafficking, such as α-tubulin and Miro, and has been shown to be efficacious in several preclinical studies using mouse models of CMT.

Aims

Here, we sought to expand on previous preclinical studies by testing the effect of genetic deletion of Hdac6 on mice carrying a humanized knockin allele of Gars1, a model of CMT-type 2D.

Methods

Gars1^ΔETAQ mice were bred to an Hdac6 knockout strain, and the resulting offspring were evaluated for clinically relevant outcomes.

Results

The genetic deletion of Hdac6 increased α-tubulin acetylation in the sciatic nerves of both wild-type and Gars1^ΔETAQ mice. However, when tested at 5 weeks of age, the Gars1^ΔETAQ mice lacking Hdac6 showed no changes in body weight, muscle atrophy, grip strength or endurance, sciatic motor nerve conduction velocity, compound muscle action potential amplitude, or peripheral nerve histopathology compared to Gars1^ΔETAQ mice with intact Hdac6.

Interpretation

Our results differ from those of two previous studies that demonstrated the benefit of the HDAC6 inhibitor tubastatin A in mouse models of CMT2D. While we cannot fully explain the different outcomes, our results offer a counterexample to the benefit of inhibiting HDAC6 in CMT2D, suggesting additional research is necessary.