A marked enhancement of a BLOC-1 gene, pallidin, associated with somnolent mouse models deficient in histamine transmission

Histamine and orexin (or hypocretin) neurons act distinctly and synergistically in wake control. A double knockout mouse genotype lacking both histamine and orexins shows all sleep disorders of human narcolepsy. We identified in this mouse brain a sharp upregulation of a BLOC-1 gene, pallidin, that is selectively associated with a deficient histamine neurotransmission and dramatic changes in the balance of cholinergic and aminergic systems in mice as well as an enhanced sleep in drosophila. This study demonstrates potential sleep disorders-associated compensatory mechanisms with pallidin as a novel biomarker.