Abstract
Dystonias are a group of neurodegenerative disorders that result in altered physiology associated with motor movements. Both the basal ganglia and the cerebellum, brain regions involved in motor learning, sensory perception integration, and reward, have been implicated in the pathology of dystonia, but the cellular and subcellular mechanisms remain diverse and for some forms of dystonia, elusive. The goal of the current review is to summarize recent evidence of cerebellar involvement in different subtypes of dystonia with a focus on Purkinje cell (PC) and cerebellar nuclei (CN) dysfunction, to find commonalities in the pathology that could lay the groundwork for the future development of therapeutics for patients with dystonia. Here we will briefly discuss the physical and functional connections between the basal ganglia and the cerebellum and how these connections could contribute to dystonic symptoms. We proceed to use human and animal model data to discuss the contributions of cerebellar cell types to specific dystonias and movement disorders where dystonia is a secondary symptom. Ultimately, we suggest PC and CN irregularity could be a locus for dystonia through impaired calcium dynamics.
Introduction
The term “dystonia musculorum deformans,” now simply dystonia, was first coined by Oppenheim in 1911 to describe his phenotypic observations about four patients suffering from alternating muscular hypotonia and hypertonia [, ]. Most recently, dystonia has been defined as a class of movement disorders characterized by either sustained or intermittent abnormal muscle contractions. These dystonic contractions often lead to repetitive movements and/or postures that are typically patterned, twisting, and potentially tremulous in nature []. Furthermore, some dystonias are worsened by the initiation of voluntary actions associated with increased muscle activation. The unintentional contraction of muscles is associated with but uniquely distinct from primary dystonic movements.
Due to these symptoms, dystonia was thought to be a disorder of the basal ganglia, which is essential for initiating and controlling voluntary actions. However, recent studies have shown the cerebellum, which is essential for motor learning and coordination, is also involved in the pathogenesis of dystonia. In fact, the cerebellum is an essential region in the motor circuit that includes the basal ganglia, striatum, cortex, and thalamus [–]. Human imaging studies characterizing various forms of dystonia have demonstrated multiple regions in this circuit are affected, including the basal ganglia, cortex, cerebellum, and thalamus [, , ]. This has led researchers to believe dystonia is likely the result of dysfunction along the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical and/or the cortico-cerebello-thalamo-cortical pathways [, –]. Is there a locus in these pathways that is common among different dystonias that could be driving the dysfunction in other brain regions irrespective of the etiology? The cerebellum, with its role in sensory integration, motor movement, and extensive connections to cortical regions, could serve as this key locus, particularly due to the pacemaking abilities of Purkinje cells (PC), the main output neuron of the cerebellar cortex. Finding common cerebellar neuronal dysfunction in dystonias could thus lead to a better understanding of underlying mechanisms and set the foundation for the development of targeted therapeutics to help alleviate symptoms in dystonic patients.
Currently, the contribution of the cerebellum to different types of dystonia is not fully understood; however, abnormal PC activity, has been implicated in multiple models of dystonia [–]. Additionally, it is well appreciated that cerebellar dysfunction, either in the form of PC or CN irregular firing, underlies many forms of motor impairment [–]. The goal of the current review is to summarize recent evidence of cerebellar involvement in different subtypes of dystonia. First, we set the stage by briefly discussing the evolution of the categorization of dystonias. Secondly, we provide a brief overview of the basal ganglia’s involvement in dystonias and discuss how the basal ganglia interacts with the cerebellum. Then, we review the architecture of the cerebellum, which converges onto PCs and CN, and highlight the importance of calcium (Ca2+) dynamics in PC intrinsic and synaptic activity. Following this, we review human data and animal models to illustrate the known contributions of each cerebellar cell type to specific dystonias. Finally, we end this review by summarizing known and proposed therapeutic intervention targets. We hypothesize impaired calcium dynamics in PCs and CN lead to firing irregularities that ultimately contribute to the pathogenesis of dystonia. This underlying mechanism of Ca2+ dysfunction could contain multiple potential targets for therapeutic interventions.
Dystonia and the name game
In addition to having well-defined parameters when characterizing dystonia, it is important to ensure specific and consistent nomenclature. This nomenclature should distinguish the unique features of the dystonia subtypes that can consistently be used between patients, clinicians, and researchers. In doing so, we can compare and differentiate the pathological underpinnings of different dystonias, allowing for better therapeutics. Currently, dystonias are classified according to their clinical and etiological features (summarized in Table 1). Clinical features include the age of onset, body distribution, temporal patterning, and association with other movement disorders [, , ]. An important diagnostic feature is the age of disease onset in patients which can be important for the progression and treatment of dystonia. The distribution of body-associated symptoms is an important feature for both diagnosing patients and providing effective therapeutic treatments. The primary regions of the body affected by dystonia are either focal, segmental, multifocal, generalized, or hemidystonic (Table 1). When characterizing phenotypes associated with generalized dystonia, the disorder can present with or without the involvement of leg movements. The establishment and severity of symptoms can evolve over time. This change is known as temporal patterning for disease pathogenesis. Temporally, dystonias are classified as either static, progressive, persistent, paroxysmal, diurnal, or action-specific. Finally, dystonia can be classified as the sole, or “isolated,” phenotype of the disorder or occur in combination with another neurological disorder affecting movement. An example where dystonia is the sole disorder is DYT-TOR1A (“early-onset generalized dystonia”), while an example of a combination disorder phenotype would be DYT-ATP1A3 (“Rapid-onset dystonia-parkinsonism”).
TABLE 1
| Axis I. Clinical features | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Age of onset | Body distribution | Temporal pattern | Associated features |
| Infancy birth to 2 years | Focal One body region is affected | Static Unchanging over time | Isolated (Previously “Primary”) Dystonia is the only motor feature (with exception of tremor) |
| Childhood 3–12 years | Segmental Two or more adjacent body regions are affected | Progressive Worsens over time | Combined (Previously Dystonia Plus) Dystonia is present with other movement disorders (e.g., Parkinsonism, myoclonus) |
| Adolescence 13–20 years | Multifocal Two or more non-adjacent body regions are involved | Persistent Present throughout the day with the same intensity | Complex Dystonia is present with other neurologic or non-neurologic features (e.g.,: Wilson’s disease) |
| Early Adulthood 21–40 years | Generalized +/− leg involvement The trunk and at least two other regions are involved. Is further distinguished with or without leg movement | Paroxysmal Typically induced by a trigger (e.g., stress, caffeine) | |
| Adulthood >40 years | Hemidystonia Multiple body regions restricted to one side of the body | Diurnal Presence and severity follow a circadian rhythm | |
| Action-specific Present during the execution of a specific task | |||
| Axis II. Etiological features | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Idiopathic (“unknown”) | Genetic origin (“Inherited”) | Environmental | |
| Nervous system pathology | Acquired | ||
| Sporadic Isolated dystonias of unknown cause | Autosomal dominant Single copy of a mutated gene from one parent can lead to a genetic condition | Degeneration Progressive structural abnormalities such as neuronal loss | Brain injury During the perinatal period or due to head traumas, brain surgery or electrical injury |
| Familial Dystonia with a genetic contribution occurring with a novel gene (these often become reclassified as inherited) | Autosomal recessive Both parents pass on a copy of a mutated gene leading to a genetic condition | Structural lesions Non-progressive neuronal abnormalities or acquired lesions | Infection/Inflammation For example, viral encephalitis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, autoimmune conditions, other |
| X-linked recessive Mutation in the gene on the X-chromosome leads to a genetic condition | No degeneration or structural lesions | Drugs Levodopa, dopamine agonists, anticonvulsants and calcium channel blockers | |
| Mitochondrial Mutation in mitochondrial genes is passed from mother to their children | Toxic Manganese, cobalt, cyanide, methanol | ||
| Vascular injury Ischemia, hemorrhage, aneurysm | |||
| Neoplastic Brain tumor and paraneoplastic encephalitis | |||
| Psychogenic Due to a psychological cause rather than physical one | |||
Clinical and etiological axes of dystonia Summarized from [, ].
Etiological features of dystonia include genetic, environmental, or idiopathic causes [, , ]. Until ∼2010s, dystonias associated with a genetic etiology were identified by the prefix “DYT” (for dystonia) and a number between 1 and 34 [, ]. More recently, the nomenclature has been updated to identify dystonia with the prefix “DYT” followed by the gene name/locus associated with the disorder. For example, early-onset generalized dystonia, formerly DYT1, is now DYT-TOR1A [, ]. Genetic or inherited sources of dystonia can either be autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, chromosome x-linked, or mitochondrial in origin (Table 1). Environmental factors that contribute to different forms of dystonia can originate through pathology of the nervous system or be acquired from environmental insults like brain injury or drug usage. While dystonia does not appear to have a singular neuropathological origin, certain forms of dystonia are linked to neurodegeneration and/or structural lesions. Dystonia has been found to have other neuropathological causes; however, these forms do not present with degeneration or lesions [, , ]. Other acquired forms of dystonia are caused by inflammation associated with infections, toxic agents, vascular injuries, neoplasms, or psychological reasons. Finally, there are unknown causes of dystonia that are sporadic or familial in nature.
Basal ganglia and the cerebellum
While the focus of this review is the cerebellar contribution to dystonia, we would be remiss to leave out a brief discussion of the basal ganglia involvement. Combined and complex dystonias have been historically thought to result from dysfunction of the basal ganglia. In the context of motor control, the basal ganglia ensures correct movements are executed and maintained while inhibiting unwanted movements []. However, overactivity of the basal ganglia results in abnormal temporal discrimination in patients with dystonia [], resulting from delayed responses to a novel environmental stimulus []. Abnormal muscle contractions in dystonia patients have also been attributed to an inability to integrate sensory signals in the basal ganglia. In fact, during bouts of dystonic symptoms, many afflicted individuals perform “sensory tricks” which can temporarily alleviate dystonic postures [, ]. The basal ganglia however, does not work in isolation, and is connected to, receives inputs from, and sends information to many other brain regions, including the cerebellum. In fact, dystonic muscle contractions have been attributed to abnormal excitability within the motor circuit [], as well as a decreased connectivity between the premotor cortex, the parietal cortex and basal ganglia.
The functions of the basal ganglia and the cerebellum overlap more than previously thought. Many decades of research have shown the basal ganglia plays a well-established role in choosing between actions and reward-based learning [, ], while the cerebellum is involved in motor coordination and motor learning [, ]. Recent work, however, shows reward signals in the cerebellum challenging this separation of roles [–]. The basal ganglia, which can be separated into multiple components, including the corpus striatum (CP), the subthalamic nucleus (STN), and the substantia nigra (SN; Figure 1), are connected to the cortex and the cerebellum through several interconnected pathways or loops (Figure 1). It’s connections with the cortex are segregated in parallel loops termed “motor” for motor control, “associative” for cognition, and “limbic” for emotional control []. The motor loop includes basal ganglia’s connection with the motor cortex through the thalamus.
FIGURE 1
The basal ganglia and the cerebellum have a direct connection as well as indirect disynaptic connections through the thalamus (Figure 1). Therefore, it is now widely accepted that both brain regions are involved in motor learning and motor control, sensory perception integration, and reward [–]. The cerebellum sends projections to the SN, regulating the release of dopamine within the basal ganglia []. The STN of the basal ganglia also sends disynaptic projections to the cerebellar cortex []. These connections allow the cerebellum to provide feedback on information received from the basal ganglia, “fine tuning” the basal ganglia motor and reward processes. Thus, in dystonias that result from impaired PC function, dystonic symptoms could arise from aberrant cerebellar output to the basal ganglia. Indeed, abnormal cerebellar activity can modulate cortical excitability and basal ganglia function, exacerbating motor symptoms [].
The few therapeutic interventions for dystonia that target the basal ganglia focus on increasing the release of dopamine to alleviate motor symptoms. DYT5-GCHI (“Dopa-responsive dystonia”) patients exhibit a decrease in dopamine in the SN, and many respond positively to levodopa (L-DOPA) treatment []. Parkinson’s disease, which also includes a decrease in the dopamine production of the SN, includes dystonia as a symptom, and patients also responds positively to L-DOPA treatment. Therefore, targeting the cerebellum could be a more viable and efficacious therapeutic option for patients with basal ganglia neuronal dysfunction.
Human studies have shown burst firing of neurons in the globus pallidus (GP) of the basal ganglia within dystonia patients []. Parkinson’s disease and patients with combined or complex dystonia have also displayed increased bursting and oscillatory activity in the STN, as well as abnormal cerebellar activity [–]. Burst firing in the STN could result in increased cerebellar activity in both disorders and alter the information sent to the motor cortex in the cerebellothalamocortical loop. Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), which involves the surgical implantation of an electrode that administers a controlled electrical current, in the cerebellum has emerged as a new therapeutic treatment for dystonias with a basal ganglia etiology [, ]. Thus, it is important to view the basal ganglia and cerebellum as a bi-directional network in the context of impairment in dystonia.
Cerebellar circuit
The cerebellum, latin for “little brain,” is located at the back portion of the brain directly underneath the cerebral cortex and just above the spinal cord in humans. Traditionally, the cerebellum is known for its involvement in motor coordination, motor learning, and eye control [, , ]. More recently, the cerebellum has gained attention for its non-motor contributions towards emotions and cognition [, ]. While cerebellar dysfunction is known to contribute to several movement disorders such as dystonia, ataxia, and Parkinson’s disease, cerebellar dysfunction has also been linked to non-motor disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and schizophrenia []. Here, we will focus on how cerebellum dysfunction contributes to different dystonias through aberrations of neuronal subtypes such as PCs and CN. However, first we provide a brief overview of the local cerebellar circuit.
On a macroscopic scale, the cerebellum is divided into two hemispheres by the vermis [–]. These hemispheres are further subdivided into three distinct lobes: a small anterior lobe, a large posterior lobe, and a tiny flocculonodular lobe. These lobes are produced as the result of two deep fissures within the cerebellum. The anterior and posterior lobes are separated by the primary fissure, while the posterior and flocculonodular are separated by the posterolateral fissure [, ]. Finally, the lobes are subdivided into lobules (I-X) by shallow fissures (Figure 2A). Lobules I-V are part of the anterior lobe, lobules VI-IX are part of the posterior lobe, and lobule X is part of the flocculonodular lobe.
FIGURE 2
On a cellular level, the cerebellar cortex is divided into three distinct layers (Figure 2B). Each layer contains at least one of the major cerebellar neuronal subtypes: PC, basket cells (BCs), stellate cells (SCs), granule cells (GRs), Golgi cells (GOs), Lugaro cells (LCs), and/or unipolar brush cells (UBCs; [
Despite subtle differences in cell size, density, and molecular composition between regions within the cerebellum, the cerebellar circuit is highly organized and regular [
PCs are large, GABAergic inhibitory neurons important for relaying information out of the cerebellar cortex [
Both synaptic and intrinsic PC processes are highly dependent on Ca2+ dynamics. In fact, PCs have some of the highest levels of endogenous Ca2+ buffering capacity due to their expression of Ca2+ binding proteins such as parvalbumin (PV) and calbindin D-28K (CB) [
How these inputs control PC activity is also dictated by Ca2+ dynamics, because Ca2+ influx through Cav2.1 channels and AMPA receptors is essential for synaptic PC plasticity mechanisms such as long-term depression (LTD) and long-term potentiation (LTP). LTD, induced by the coincident activation of parallel and climbing fiber inputs onto PCs, depends on a Ca2+-dependent signaling cascade involving protein kinase C (PKC) and the internalization of AMPA receptors, resulting in decreased synaptic strength [
PCs then send this information through monosynaptic inhibitory projections to the CN in the white matter of the cerebellum (Figure 2B; [
These nuclei serve as a relay station to carry information out of the cerebellum to extracerebellar regions like the thalamus and brainstem [
Dystonia and the cerebellar cell types
In humans, understanding the neuropathology of dystonia is limited due to relatively small sample sizes of previous characterization studies. This is particularly relevant when attempting to elucidate mechanistic contributions of the cerebellum to disease pathogenesis. However, neuroimaging studies from human samples can provide preliminary insights that the cerebellum, as well as the basal ganglia, contribute to several forms of dystonia [
TABLE 2
| Model | Genetic or Pharmacological Manipulation | Purkinje Cells | Cerebellar Nuclei | Other | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isolated Dystonia | DYT-TOR1A humans [ | GAG deletion | -- | -- | ↑ cerebellar metabolic activity ↓ connectivity between cerebellum and thalamus |
| DYT-TOR1A mouse [ | Δ GAG Knock-in | - shorter primary dendrites ↓ spine numbers on distal dendrites ↑ firing rate on non-tonically firing cells ↓ peak frequency in non-tonically firing cells | -- | ↑ in cerebellum size ↓ connectivity between cerebellum, thalamus and cerebral cortex | |
| DYT-TOR1A mouse [ | Purkinje cell-specific knock out | - shorter primary dendrites ↓ spine numbers on distal dendrites | -- | -- | |
| DYT-TOR1A mouse [ | Human TorsinA protein | ↓ inhibitory input from parallel fibers ↑ excitatory input from climbing fibers ↑ metabolic activity | -- | -- | |
| DYT-THAP1 humans [ | Nonsense, missense or truncating mutation | -- | -- | ↓ connectivity between cerebellum, thalamus and cerebral cortex | |
| DYT-THAP1 mouse [ | Heterozygous knock-out | ↓ cell numbers ↓ regularity of simple spikes | ↓ cell numbers ↓ firing frequency | -- | |
| Combined Dystonias | DYT-TAF1 humans [ | Repeat expansion | - PC loss | -- | -- |
| DYT-TAF1 mouse [ | CRISPR/Cas9 deletion | - Abnormal PC layer - PC loss ↓ in PC sEPSC | -- | ↓ thickness in granule layer | |
| DYT-SGCE humans [ | Deletion of part of gene | -- | -- | ↑ metabolism in cerebellum | |
| DYT-SGCE mouse [ | Global knock-out | - Abnormal PC nuclear envelope | -- | -- | |
| DYT-SGCE mouse [ | Acute shRNA knock-down | ↓ average firing rate ↑ firing regularity ↑ mode firing rate | ↓ average firing rate ↑ firing regularity | -- | |
| DYT-ATP1A3 humans [ | Missense mutation | ↓ numbers of PC - PCs with abnormal swelling and ↓ dendritic arborization | ↓ numbers of neurons in the dentate nucleus | ↓ numbers of granule cells | |
| DYT-ATP1A3 mouse [ | Knockdown | ↑ high-frequency burst pattern - Changes in intrinsic activity | ↑ frequency burst pattern | -- | |
| DYT-ATP1A3 mouse [ | Heterozygous knockdown | ↑ inhibitory neurotransmission onto PC from interneurons in molecular layer | -- | -- | |
| DYT-ATP1A3 mouse [ | Ouabain infusion | ↑ burst-firing activity | ↑ burst-firing activity | -- | |
| Animal Models with Dystonia Phenotype | Tottering Mouse [ | Missense mutation in CACNA1A gene | ↑ high-frequency bursting activity | -- | -- |
| Leaner Mouse [ | Mutation in CACNA1A gene | ↑ PC degeneration ↑ PC death in Zebrin− bands ↑ irregularity of intrinsic pacemaking ↓ Ca2+ current density | -- | ↑ granule cell degeneration | |
| IP3R mouse [ | IP3R knockout in cerebellum | ↓ frequency of complex spikes | -- | -- | |
| DT rat [ | Mutation in Atcay gene | ↓ slightly PC soma ↓ frequency and firing of complex spikes ↓ simple spike firing rate (anesthetized rats) | ↑ burst firing in medial, lateral, and interpositus CN | Disrupted climbing fiber inputs | |
| Glutamate Receptor Activation in rat (or mouse) [ | Kainic acid AMPAR agonists | - Dystonia symptoms are reduced in the absence of PC | -- | -- |
Summary of abnormal cerebellar function in dystonia animal models and animal models with dystonia phenotype.
Isolated dystonia subtypes
DYT-TOR1A (previously DYT1)
DYT-TOR1A, previously known as DYT1, is a form of dystonia with an autosomal dominant inheritance that leads to early-onset generalized dystonia. The onset of DYT-TOR1A starts in childhood (mean = 13 years; range = 1–28 years) [
The underlying cause of DYT-TOR1A is a 3-base pair GAG deletion in the TOR1A gene, which encodes TorsinA. This GAG deletion ultimately leads to the removal of glutamic acid from the c-terminal portion of the protein [
Multiple human neuroimaging studies have identified metabolic and network abnormalities in the cerebellum of DYT-TOR1A patients. FDG-PET studies show increased uptake of tracer in the cerebellar hemisphere which is normally associated with increased metabolic activity induced by inflammation, infection, or malignancy [
Of the different subtypes of dystonia examined using rodent models, DYT-TOR1A is perhaps the most characterized. Multiple DYT-TOR1A animal models have been created in which the TorsinA protein is globally or regionally/cell-type specifically knocked-down KD; [
The DYT-TOR1A ΔGAG allele KI model is the most similar to human dystonia patients in that only one of the pair of glutamic acid residues in the TorsinA protein is removed [
There are several regional or cell-specific DYT-TOR1A conditional KO or KI animal models to understand how regions and cell-types contribute to the neuropathology associated with dystonia. TorsinA has been conditionally knocked-out of the central nervous system [
A third type of DYT1-TOR1A genetic manipulation includes transgenic models in which mice overexpress the mutant human TorsinA protein (hMT). Like other KI and KO animal models, these transgenic mice do not display overt dystonic behavior, but they do exhibit motor deficits [
To circumvent the issue of compensation and create an overtly dystonic rodent model, one group opted to regionally knock-down TorsinA in adult mice. DYT-TOR1A KD in the adult cerebellum did not result in changes in overall activity levels in the open-field test but resulted in increased dystonia scores that were characterized by abnormal hind-limb postures [
While more research is necessary to fully understand the role of TorsinA in PC and CN function and development, the data from DYT1-TOR1A mouse models suggests that TorsinA is an important protein for maintaining PC dendritic morphology and electrophysiological properties. There are many other isolated and combined forms of dystonia, and while the cerebellum has been implicated in many of these, the role of PCs and/or CN has not been as extensively characterized, particularly when examining how neuronal function contributes to motor behavior.
DYT-THAP1 (previously DYT6)
DYT-THAP1 is an isolated form of dystonia with adolescent-onset of symptoms. It was previously referred to as DYT6 and is also known as adolescent-onset dystonia of mixed type. This subtype of dystonia was first identified in a Mennonite family. The onset of this subtype usually occurs in adolescence with features of focal dystonia beginning in the cervical or cranial muscles. Over time these features become more generalized [
The molecular cause of DYT-THAP1 is either a nonsense, missense, or truncation mutation in the gene associated with the Thanatos-associated domain-containing apoptosis-associated protein (THAP1). Loss-of-function mutations in Thap1 have been shown to result in changes in voltage gated Ca2+ channel expression associated with other forms of cerebellar dystonia [
Combined dystonia subtypes
DYT-TAF1 (previously DYT3)
DYT-TAF1 is a form of combined dystonia where Parkinsonism is the predominant disorder [
The underlying cause of DYT-TAF1 is a repeat expansion in the TATA box-binding protein associated factor 1 (TAF1) gene, which is an essential part of the transcription machinery in neurons. While the neuropathology of DYT-TAF1 is primarily associated with dysfunction in the striatum [
DYT-SGCE (previously DYT11)
DYT-SGCE is a combined dystonia in which myoclonus is the prevalent disorder.
This subtype has previously been classified as DYT11 and is also known as myoclonus-dystonia (MD). The onset of this dystonia subtype is usually between childhood and adolescence [
The underlying cause of DYT-SGCE is deletions of part of the ε-sarcoglycan gene (SGCE) that results in gene loss of function. Worth noting, SGCE is highly expressed in the cerebellum, particularly within the PCs and the dentate nuclei, compared to other brain regions implicated in dystonia [
Like the other animal models discussed, SGCE KO mice do not display overt dystonic postures. However, DYT-SGCE KO mice are characterized by myoclonic jerks and impaired motor performance and motor learning on the beam-walking assay [
DYT-ATP1A3 (previously DYT12)
DYT-ATP1A3 is a combined dystonia in which Parkinsonism is the prevalent disorder. This subtype has previously been known as DYT12 and is also known as Rapid-onset Dystonia Parkinsonism (RDP). With regards to the cerebellum, this is perhaps the second most studied and characterized subtype of dystonia in rodent models. The onset of DYT-ATP1A3 varies between adolescence and young adulthood [
The underlying cause of DYT-ATP1A3 is a loss-of-function missense mutation in the ATP1A3 gene. This gene encodes the α3 subunit of the sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphate pump (Na+/K+ ATPase; [
DYT-ATP1A3 has been studied using genetic and pharmacological animal models. While genetic models knock-down ATP1A3, pharmacological models selectively inhibit the Na+/K+ pump using ouabain [
Pharmacological findings align well with findings from the genetic model. In adult mice and juvenile rats cerebellar infusions of ouabain induced dystonic postures [
Animal models with dystonia phenotypes
The previously mentioned animal models were associated with genetic mutations that were found in humans. However, several other genetic and pharmacological rodent models display dystonic motor phenotypes that are thought to be caused by abnormal activity of PCs. Below we will discuss some rodent models and how PC activity in these models is thought to contribute to phenotypes associated with dystonia.
Tottering mouse
The tottering mouse (tg), results from a missense mutation in the Cacna1A gene that encodes the α1 subunit of the P/Q-type voltage Ca2+ channel (Cav2.1; [
Leaner mouse
Like the tottering mouse, the leaner mouse (tgla) results from a mutation in the α1 subunit of the Cav2.1 channel. The motor deficit phenotypes of these mutants is much more pronounced than the tottering mice and include generalized dystonia and ataxia [
Ip3R1 mouse
The inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor (IP3R1) homozygous and heterozygous mouse models are generally associated with spinocerebellar ataxias, seizures, and premature death in homozygotes [
DT rat
The genetically dystonic (dt) rat is the result of a spontaneous mutation in the Atcay gene which encodes the caytaxin protein important for neurodevelopment and neurotransmission [
While dt rats may not be characterized by anatomical abnormalities there are noted neurochemical and electrophysiological abnormalities. In terms of neurochemical changes, PCs in dt rats show elevated levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid GABA; [
Glutamate receptor activation rat (or mouse)
Thus far we have discussed genetic animal models that implicate PC dysfunction in dystonia. However, there are other pharmacological rodent models of dystonia that are marked by PC dysfunction. For example, injection of kainic acid or AMPA receptor agonists into the cerebellum results in generalized dystonia associated with aberrant PC function [
Discussion
Historically, dystonia has been characterized as a group of neurodegenerative disorders resulting in dysregulation of the basal ganglia motor loop. Generally, researchers now agree that dystonia results from the dysfunction of the connectivity of brain regions in the cerebello-thalamo-cortical pathway [
Thus, a better understanding of the dysfunction of the cerebellar circuitry in dystonia could provide molecular mechanisms to alleviate symptoms. To date, many studies have been performed to elucidate the mechanistic causes of dystonia. These studies have included in vivo neuroimaging of humans, post-mortem brain immunostaining, animal models, and cell culture experiments from patient derived cell lines. To study the mechanistic causes in detail, there needs to be improved models of the dystonia subtypes. Rodent models are instrumental in the recapitulation of clinical manifestations discovered within afflicted patients. Albeit a limitation of animal studies is possible compensation of genetic loss, resulting in masking of the phenotype seen in humans, as was the case with many DYT-TOR1A mouse models. However, one method to combat this developmental compensation was circumvented with viral injections knocking down TorsinA in the adult cerebellum [
It is possible PC and CN dysfunction are a lynchpin in the pathology of many dystonias involving cerebellar dysfunction, as is the case with ataxia. The timing and pattern of PC activity are integral factors in CN activity and motor coordination [
PCs, have high Ca2+ buffering, and greatly depend on Ca2+ dynamics for the maintenance of their intrinsic activity [
Studying the functional and neuronal connections of the cerebellum to other brain regions like the basal ganglia in models of dystonia will shed light on the contribution of both brain regions to dysfunction. The advent of advanced Ca2+ imaging and in vivo electrophysiological recording techniques now allow us to record from multiple cell types and brain regions simultaneously. This gives us the ability to investigate cerebellar Ca2+ dynamics and PC functional connectivity. Furthermore, these advances allow us to examine how dysfunction in Ca2+ dynamics and PC connectivity contributes to each region of the cerebellar-thalamic-cortical loop. Additionally, the development of novel faster Ca2+ indicators will allow the field to investigate the fast Ca2+ dynamics seen in PCs, which will shed light on the essential role Ca2+ plays in dystonias. While mesoscale Ca2+ imaging in multiple subcompartments of PCs will give researchers the resolution to better understand how somatic and dendritic Ca2+ dynamics in large populations of PCs differ within a behavioral modality [211]. With these techniques performed in rodent models of dystonias, combined with tracing and in vivo electrophysiology of multiple regions in this loop during motor coordination, perhaps the field can increase the understanding of the connection between these regions in health and pathological states and relate it to subcellular mechanisms such as dysregulation of Ca2+ dynamic in PCs, providing possible pathways in PCs that could be used as a therapeutic avenue for alleviating motor symptoms in dystonia.
Statements
Author contributions
NJ: Wrote and organized manuscript. Made tables JS: Edited and provided vital feedback HS: Edited and made figures. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.
Funding
The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was supported by start-up funds provided by Yale School of Medicine, NINDS 1R21NS132111-01 to HS.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Generative AI statement
The author(s) declare that no Generative AI was used in the creation of this manuscript.
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Summary
Keywords
cerebellum, Purkinje cells, cerebellar nuclei, dystonia, calcium handling
Citation
Jackson NN, Stagray JA and Snell HD (2025) Cerebellar contributions to dystonia: unraveling the role of Purkinje cells and cerebellar nuclei. Dystonia 4:14006. doi: 10.3389/dyst.2025.14006
Received
30 October 2024
Accepted
04 February 2025
Published
17 February 2025
Volume
4 - 2025
Edited by
Cheryl Brandenburg, Baylor College of Medicine, United States
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© 2025 Jackson, Stagray and Snell.
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*Correspondence: Heather D. Snell, heather.snell@yale.edu
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