Disease models in cerebral cavernous malformations

Cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) is a rare disease of genetic origin characterized by dilated and leaky capillaries occurring mainly in the central nervous system. CCM can arise sporadically or may be inherited as an autosomal dominant condition with incomplete penetrance and variable clinical expressivity. The sporadic form accounts for up to 80% of cases, whereas the familial form accounts for at least 20% of cases. Genetic studies have identified three genes associated with CCMs: KRIT1 (CCM1), MGC4607 (CCM2) and PDCD10 (CCM3). Recently, great advances in understanding the pathophysiology of CCM disease have been obtained thanks to the use of animal and cellular models displaying all or some of the pathological characteristics that are observed in the human disease. Despite interspecies differences and the difficulty in creating animal models that completely recapitulate the human CCM disease onset and progression, these models have been helpful in identifying new molecular mechanisms underlying CCM development and in testing novel pharmacological therapies.