Affiliation:
1. Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave West, BMH1044, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
2. Transgenic Technology Laboratory, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Switchback Road, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK
Abstract
Barth syndrome (BTHS) is an X-linked mitochondrial disease caused by mutations in the gene encoding for tafazzin (TAZ), a key enzyme in the remodeling of cardiolipin. Mice with a germline deficiency in Taz have been generated (Taz-KO) but not yet fully characterized. We performed physiological assessments of 3-, 6-, and 12-month-old male Taz-KO mice, including measures of perinatal survival, growth, lifespan, gross anatomy, whole-body energy and substrate metabolism, glucose homeostasis, and exercise capacity. Taz-KO mice displayed reduced viability, with lower-than-expected numbers of mice recorded at 4 weeks of age, and a shortened lifespan due to disease progression. At all ages, Taz-KO mice had lower body weights compared with wild-type (Wt) littermates despite similar absolute food intakes. This finding was attributed to reduced adiposity and diminutive organs and tissues, including heart and skeletal muscles. Although there were no differences in basal levels of locomotion between age-matched genotypes, indirect calorimetry studies showed higher energy expenditure measures and respiratory exchange ratios in Taz-KO mice. At the youngest age, Taz-KO mice had comparable glucose tolerance and insulin action to Wt mice, but while these measures indicated metabolic impairments in Wt mice with advancing age that were likely associated with increasing adiposity, Taz-KO mice were protected. Comparisons across the three age-cohorts revealed a significant and more severe deterioration of exercise capacity in Taz-KO mice than in their Wt littermate controls. The Taz-KO mouse model faithfully recapitulates important aspects of BTHS, and thus provides an important new tool to investigate pathophysiological mechanisms and potential therapies.
Funder
Barth Syndrome Foundation
Barth Syndrome Foundation of Canada
Barth Syndrome Foundation U.K.
Canada Foundation for Innovation—Leader’s Opportunity Fund
Government of Ontario Early Researcher Award (ERA)—Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
NSERC
Cancer Research UK
Subject
General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology,Medicine (miscellaneous)
Cited by
3 articles.
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