Examining differentially expressed genes and pathways within the striatum using a rodent model of DYT-TOR1A dystonia

DYT-TOR1A (DYT1) is the most common monogenetic form of dystonia characterized by a reduced disease penetrance of 30-40% only. Environmental factors are suspected to play a major role in eliciting dystonia in DYT1 gene carriers. In line with this observation a sciatic nerve crush injury as a traumatic environmental stimulus was previously shown to induce dystonia-like movements (DLM) in the asymptomatic DYT-TOR1A rat model (∆ETorA). The primary objective of this study was to assess the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms associated with DYT1 dystonia using this “second hit� DYT1 rodent model. The striatum, as one of the pathophysiologic key structures of dystonia, was analysed twelve weeks after nerve injury by unbiased RNA-sequencing in order to identify differentially expressed genes (DEG) and pathways.