Sex differences in gene expression with galactosylceramide treatment in Cln3^Δex7/8 mice

Background CLN3 disease is caused by mutations in the CLN3 gene. The purpose of this study is to discern global expression patterns reflecting therapeutic targets in CLN3 disease. Methods Differential gene expression in vehicle-exposed mouse brain was determined after intraperitoneal vehicle/Galactosylceramide (GalCer) injections for 40 weeks with GeneChip Mouse Genome 430 2.0 arrays. Results Analysis identified 66 genes in male and 30 in female brains differentially expressed in GalCer-treated versus vehicle-exposed Cln3^Δex7/8 mice. Gene ontology revealed aberrations of biological function including developmental, cellular, and behavioral processes. GalCer treatment altered pathways of long-term potentiation/depression, estrogen signaling, synaptic vesicle cycle, ErbB signaling, and prion diseases in males, but prolactin signaling, selenium compound metabolism and steroid biosynthesis in females. Gene-gene network analysis highlighted networks functionally pertinent to GalCer treatment encompassing motor dysfunction, neurodegeneration, memory disorder, inflammation and astrogliosis in males, and, cataracts, inflammation, astrogliosis, and anxiety in females. Conclusions This study sheds light on global expression patterns following GalCer treatment of Cln3^Δex7/8 mice. Understanding molecular effects of GalCer on mouse brain gene expression, paves the way for personalized strategies for treating this debilitating disease in humans.