Role of histidine decarboxylase gene in the pathogenesis of Tourette syndrome

Tourette syndrome (TS) is caused by complex genetic and environmental factors and is characterized by tics. Histidine decarboxylase (HDC) mutation is a rare genetic cause with high penetrance in patients with TS. HDC‐knockout (KO) mice have similar behavioral and neurochemical abnormalities as patients with TS. Therefore, HDC‐KO mice are considered a valuable TS pathophysiological model as it reveals the underlying pathological mechanisms that cannot be obtained from patients with TS, thus advancing the development of treatment strategies for TS and other tic disorders. This review summarizes some of the recent research hotspots and progress in HDC‐KO mice, aiming to deepen our understanding of brain mechanisms relevant to TS. Furthermore, we encapsulate the possible brain nerve cell changes in HDC‐KO mice and their potential roles in TS to provide multiple directions for the future research on tics.