Targeting the RHOA pathway improves learning and memory in Kctd13 and 16p11.2 deletion mouse models.

Gene copy number variants (CNV) have an important role in the appearance of neurodevelopmental disorders. Particularly, the deletion of the 16p11.2 locus is associated with autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, and several other features. Earlier studies highlighted the implication of Kctd13 genetic imbalance in the 16p11.2 deletion through the regulation of the RHOA pathway. Here, we target the pathway and rescue the cognitive phenotypes of the 16p11.2 deletion mouse models. We used a chronic administration of fasudil (HA1077), an inhibitor of the Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK), in mouse models carrying a heterozygous inactivation of Kctd13, or the deletion of the entire 16p11.2 BP4-BP5 region. We focused our attention on the most robust cognitive phenotypes seen in the 16p11.2 models and we showed that a chronic fasudil treatment can restore object recognition memory in both mouse models but does not change other behavioural traits. These findings confirm KCTD13 as one target gene causing cognitive deficits in 16p11.2 deletion patients, and the pertinence of the RHOA pathway as a therapeutic path and reinforce the contribution of other gene(s) involved in cognitive defects found in the 16p11.2 CNV models. HIGHLIGHTS- Kctd13 haploinsufficiency recapitulates most of the behaviour phenotypes found in the 16p11.2 Del/+ models - Fasudil treatment restores Kctd13 and 16p11.2 Del/+ mutant phenotypes in novel location and novel object recognition memory tests - Fasudil treatment restores the RhoA pathway in Kctd13+/- and 16p11.2 Del/+ models