Disease‐modifying effects of ganglioside GM1 in Huntington's disease models

Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor, cognitive and psychiatric problems. Previous studies indicated that levels of brain gangliosides are lower than normal in HD models and that administration of exogenous ganglioside GM1 corrects motor dysfunction in the YAC128 mouse model of HD. In this study, we provide evidence that intraventricular administration of GM1 has profound disease‐modifying effects across HD mouse models with different genetic background. GM1 administration results in decreased levels of mutant huntingtin, the protein that causes HD, and in a wide array of beneficial effects that include changes in levels of DARPP32, ferritin, Iba1 and GFAP, modulation of dopamine and serotonin metabolism, and restoration of normal levels of glutamate, GABA, L‐Ser and D‐Ser. Treatment with GM1 slows down neurodegeneration, white matter atrophy and body weight loss in R6/2 mice. Motor functions are significantly improved in R6/2 mice and restored to normal in Q140 mice, including gait abnormalities that are often resistant to treatments. Psychiatric‐like and cognitive dysfunctions are also ameliorated by GM1 administration in Q140 and YAC128 mice. The widespread benefits of GM1 administration, at molecular, cellular and behavioural levels, indicate that this ganglioside has strong therapeutic and disease‐modifying potential in HD. Synopsis Huntington's disease (HD) is an incurable neurodegenerative disease. Intraventricular administration of ganglioside GM1 in three different HD mouse models ameliorates huntingtin levels, brain and striatal atrophy, motor and cognitive defects and other neurochemical levels. Administration of GM1 decreases levels of toxic soluble and insoluble mutant huntingtin. GM1 slows down neurodegeneration and white matter atrophy in R6/2 mice. GM1 restores normal levels of key neurotransmitters in the brain. GM1 improves and even restores to normal motor function in HD mice, and corrects psychiatric‐like and cognitive dysfunction. GM1 could be a novel disease‐modifying therapy for HD. Graphical Abstract Huntington's disease (HD) is an incurable neurodegenerative disease. Intraventricular administration of ganglioside GM1 in three different HD mouse models ameliorates huntingtin levels, brain and striatal atrophy, motor and cognitive defects and other neurochemical levels.