GM1 Oligosaccharide Ameliorates Rett Syndrome Phenotypes In Vitro and In Vivo via Trk Receptor Activation

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder primarily caused by mutations in the methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene. Despite advancements in research, no cure exists due to an incomplete understanding of the molecular effects of MeCP2 deficiency. Previous studies have identified impaired tropomyosin receptor kinase (Trk) neurotrophin (NTP) signaling and mitochondrial redox imbalances as key drivers of the pathology. Moreover, altered glycosphingolipid metabolism has been reported in RTT. GM1 ganglioside is a known regulator of the nervous system, and growing evidence indicates its importance in maintaining neuronal homeostasis via its oligosaccharide chain, coded as GM1-OS. GM1-OS directly interacts with the Trk receptors on the cell surface, triggering neurotrophic and neuroprotective pathways in neurons. In this study, we demonstrate that GM1-OS ameliorates RTT deficits in the Mecp2-null model. GM1-OS restored synaptogenesis and reduced mitochondrial oxidative stress of Mecp2-knock-out (ko) cortical neurons. When administered in vivo, GM1-OS mitigated RTT-like symptoms. Our findings indicate that GM1-OS effects were mediated by Trk receptor activation on the neuron’s plasma membrane. Overall, our results highlight GM1-OS as a promising candidate for RTT treatment.