Lysosomal storage disease upon disruption of the neuronal chloride transport protein ClC-6

M Poët, U Kornak, M Schweizer… - Proceedings of the …, 2006 - National Acad Sciences
M Poët, U Kornak, M Schweizer, AA Zdebik, O Scheel, S Hoelter, W Wurst, A Schmitt…
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2006National Acad Sciences
Mammalian CLC proteins function as Cl− channels or as electrogenic Cl−/H+ exchangers
and are present in the plasma membrane and intracellular vesicles. We now show that the
ClC-6 protein is almost exclusively expressed in neurons of the central and peripheral
nervous systems, with a particularly high expression in dorsal root ganglia. ClC-6
colocalized with markers for late endosomes in neuronal cell bodies. The disruption of ClC-6
in mice reduced their pain sensitivity and caused moderate behavioral abnormalities …
Mammalian CLC proteins function as Cl channels or as electrogenic Cl/H+ exchangers and are present in the plasma membrane and intracellular vesicles. We now show that the ClC-6 protein is almost exclusively expressed in neurons of the central and peripheral nervous systems, with a particularly high expression in dorsal root ganglia. ClC-6 colocalized with markers for late endosomes in neuronal cell bodies. The disruption of ClC-6 in mice reduced their pain sensitivity and caused moderate behavioral abnormalities. Neuronal tissues showed autofluorescence at initial axon segments. At these sites, electron microscopy revealed electron-dense storage material that caused a pathological enlargement of proximal axons. These deposits were positive for several lysosomal proteins and other marker proteins typical for neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL), a lysosomal storage disease. However, the lysosomal pH of Clcn6−/− neurons appeared normal. CLCN6 is a candidate gene for mild forms of human NCL. Analysis of 75 NCL patients identified ClC-6 amino acid exchanges in two patients but failed to prove a causative role of CLCN6 in that disease.
National Acad Sciences