South Middlesex Times

Scientists at Rutgers University–New Brunswick have successfully created mice with traits of Tourette disorder using advanced genetic techniques, offering new avenues for studying the condition and testing potential treatments.

The researchers, using CRISPR/Cas9 DNA editing, inserted genetic mutations found in humans with Tourette disorder into mouse embryos. Co-senior author Jay Tischfield noted, “There are no medicines specifically developed for Tourette disorder and repurposing other drugs has worked poorly, with too many side effects.”

The genetically engineered mice exhibited key characteristics of Tourette disorder, showing repetitive motor behaviors or tics, and “sensorimotor gating deficits.” Research associate Cara Nasello explained that these mice displayed difficulty in processing sensory information, similar to individuals with the disorder.

Furthermore, the team found evidence that the gene mutations altered dopamine levels in the brain, impacting processing deficits and repetitive behaviors. Max Tischfield, the senior corresponding author, highlighted that these changes in neural circuitry affect how dopamine allows brain cells to communicate.

The researchers acknowledged the crucial role of families with Tourette disorder who donated genetic samples over the years. Co-senior author Gary Heiman expressed gratitude towards these families for their contribution to advancing understanding and treatment of the disorder.

The study’s findings are not only significant for Tourette disorder research but also hold promise for studying other complex disorders caused by multiple genes. The researchers hope that their work will attract more scientists to delve into the study of Tourette disorder and other related conditions.

In addition to the Rutgers team, researchers from Harvard Medical School and Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar also contributed to the study.