Genetic Brain Disease (Kleefstra Syndrome) Reversed After Birth in Mouse Model

Researchers at the RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research (CPR) in Japan report that Kleefstra syndrome, a genetic disorder that leads to intellectual disability, can be reversed after birth in a mouse model of the disease. Published online on July 23, 2021 in iScience, the series of experiments led by Yoichi Shinkai, PhD, Chief Scientist, Cellular Memory Laboratory, RIKEN CPR, showed that postnatal treatment resulted in improved symptoms, both in the brain and in behavior. The open-access article is titled “Derepression of Inflammation-Related Genes Link to Microglia Activation and Neural Maturation Defect in a Mouse Model of Kleefstra Syndrome.”