# BIMODAL FUNCTION OF ASTROGLIA IN SCA1 DISEASE PROGRESSION

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 2020 · $29,987

## Abstract

BIMODAL FUNCTION OF ASTROGLIA IN SCA1 DISEASE PROGRESSION
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a fatal autosomal dominant disease that has no available treatment
options for patients. SCA1 is caused by a tandem polyglutamine (polyQ) repeat expansion in the Ataxin-1 protein
that leads to progressive degeneration mainly in cerebellar Purkinje neurons. The subsequent degeneration of
Purkinje cell neuron underlies the progressive ataxia and loss of fine motor control found in patients. Due to the
progressive atrophy of Purkinje neurons, research has focused on neuronal cell intrinsic factors that lead to
dysfunction and degeneration while little is known about how Purkinje cell non-intrinsic factors contribute to SCA1
disease state. Recently, we have shown that astroglia, and in particular Bergmann glia, become reactive before
any Purkinje cell atrophy occurs in both a transgenic (82Q) and knock-in (154Q) mouse model of the disease,
which is suggestive of a possible role of astroglia in SCA1 pathogenesis. Bergmann glia, the most prominent
astroglial subtype in the Purkinje cell layer of the cerebellum, normally function as supportive cells that, among
other roles, maintain potassium and glutamate equilibriums. Yet, how these functions are changed by astrogliosis
in SCA1 remains unclear. Therefore, the goal of this proposal is to assess the possible mechanisms by which
astroglia, in particular Bergmann glia, could contribute to SCA1 disease progression in both mouse models of
SCA1. We aim to uncover possible beneficial or maladaptive roles of Bergmann glia using single-cell gene
profiling coupled with electrophysiological characterization of Bergmann glia throughout SCA1 disease
progression. We hypothesize that there is a bimodal function of Bergmann glia in SCA1, where early phase
activation enhances neuroprotective gene expression of potassium inward rectifier 4.1 (Kir4.1) as well as
increases potassium buffering. We also hypothesize that long term activation becomes maladaptive and Kir4.1
expression will be downregulated. The downregulation of Kir4.1 would then lead to dysfunctional potassium
buffering and glutamate uptake resulting in alterations in calcium signaling as well as membrane potential. The
hypothesis that bimodal gene expression of Kir4.1 is neuroprotective early and neurodestructive late in disease
will be tested with rescue and knockdown experiments. These studies will not only elucidate non-neuronal gene
targets for therapeutics in SCA1, but also it is possible that these findings will be applicable to astrogliosis in
other central nervous system diseases.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9952439
- **Project number:** 5F31NS103392-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** Austin Ferro
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $29,987
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-06-01 → 2020-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9952439

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9952439, BIMODAL FUNCTION OF ASTROGLIA IN SCA1 DISEASE PROGRESSION (5F31NS103392-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-07-12 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9952439. Licensed CC0.

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