Enhancing glucose metabolism via gluconeogenesis is therapeutic in a zebrafish model of Dravet syndrome.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Banerji R
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8023476 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:Loss-of-function mutations in SCN1A cause Dravet syndrome (DS), a catastrophic childhood epilepsy in which patients experience comorbid behavioral conditions, including movement disorders, sleep abnormalities, anxiety, and intellectual disability. To study the functional consequences of voltage-gated sodium channel mutations, we use zebrafish with a loss-of-function mutation in scn1lab, a zebrafish homolog of human SCN1A. Homozygous scn1labs552/s552 mutants exhibit early-life seizures, metabolic deficits, and early death. Here, we developed in vivo assays using scn1labs552 mutants between 3 and 6 d postfertilization (dpf). To evaluate sleep disturbances, we monitored larvae for 24 h with locomotion tracking software. Locomotor activity during dark (night phase) was significantly higher in mutants than in controls. Among anticonvulsant drugs, clemizole and diazepam, but not trazodone or valproic acid, decreased distance moved at night for scn1labs552 mutant larvae. To monitor exploratory behavior in an open field, we tracked larvae in a novel arena. Mutant larvae exhibited impaired exploratory behavior, with increased time spent near the edge of the arena and decreased mobility, suggesting greater anxiety. Both clemizole and diazepam, but not trazodone or valproic acid, decreased distance moved and increased time spent in the center of the arena. Counting inhibitory neurons in vivo revealed no differences between scn1labs552 mutants and siblings. Taken together, our results demonstrate conserved features of sleep, anxiety, and movement disorders in scn1lab mutant zebrafish, and provide evidence that a zebrafish model allows effective tests of treatments for behavioral comorbidities associated with DS.
| S-EPMC5555352 | biostudies-other
Project description:Dravet syndrome is a catastrophic epilepsy of childhood, characterized by cognitive impairment, severe seizures, and increased risk for sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Although refractory to conventional antiepileptic drugs, emerging preclinical and clinical evidence suggests that modulation of the endocannabinoid system could be therapeutic in these patients. Preclinical research on this topic is limited as cannabis, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), are designated by United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) as illegal substances. In this study, we used a validated zebrafish model of Dravet syndrome, scn1lab homozygous mutants, to screen for anti-seizure activity in a commercially available library containing 370 synthetic cannabinoid (SC) compounds. SCs are intended for experimental use and not restricted by DEA designations. Primary phenotype-based screening was performed using a locomotion-based assay in 96-well plates, and a secondary local field potential recording assay was then used to confirm suppression of electrographic epileptiform events. Identified SCs with anti-seizure activity, in both assays, included five SCs structurally classified as indole-based cannabinoids JWH 018 N-(5-chloropentyl) analog, JWH 018 N-(2-methylbutyl) isomer, 5-fluoro PB-22 5-hydroxyisoquinoline isomer, 5-fluoro ADBICA, and AB-FUBINACA 3-fluorobenzyl isomer. Our approach demonstrates that two-stage phenotype-based screening in a zebrafish model of Dravet syndrome successfully identifies SCs with anti-seizure activity.
| S-EPMC7193054 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Gluconeogenesis, an essential metabolic process for hepatocytes, is downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here we show that the nuclear receptor Nur77 is a tumour suppressor for HCC that regulates gluconeogenesis. Low Nur77 expression in clinical HCC samples correlates with poor prognosis, and a Nur77 deficiency in mice promotes HCC development. Nur77 interacts with phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK1), the rate-limiting enzyme in gluconeogenesis, to increase gluconeogenesis and suppress glycolysis, resulting in ATP depletion and cell growth arrest. However, PEPCK1 becomes labile after sumoylation and is degraded via ubiquitination, which is augmented by the p300 acetylation of ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme 9 (Ubc9). Although Nur77 attenuates sumoylation and stabilizes PEPCK1 via impairing p300 activity and preventing the Ubc9-PEPCK1 interaction, Nur77 is silenced in HCC samples due to Snail-mediated DNA methylation of the Nur77 promoter. Our study reveals a unique mechanism to suppress HCC by switching from glycolysis to gluconeogenesis through Nur77 antagonism of PEPCK1 degradation.
| S-EPMC5333363 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy (SMEI), or Dravet syndrome (DS), is a catastrophic pediatric epilepsy with severe intellectual disability, impaired social development, and persistent drug-resistant seizures. One of its primary monogenic causes is a mutation in SCN1A (Nav1.1), a type I voltage-gated sodium channel. In mice, Nav1.1 mutation is associated with reduced sodium current, altered interneuron firing, cognitive deficits, autistic-like traits and seizures. Here we describe a larval zebrafish Nav1.1 mutant that recapitulates salient features of the human SCN1A mutation phenotype. Between three and seven days post-fertilization, Nav1.1 mutants exhibit spontaneous abnormal electrographic activity, hyperactivity and convulsive behaviors. Transcriptomic analysis of Nav1.1 mutants was remarkable for the relatively small fraction of genes that were differentially expressed (~2%) and the lack of compensatory changes in expression for other SCN subunits. Pharmacological studies confirmed an antiepileptic action for the ketogenic diet, benzodiazepine, valproate, potassium bromide and stiripentol in Nav1.1 mutants; acetazolamide, phenytoin, ethosuximide had no effect, carbamazepine and vigabatrin made seizures worse. Using this mutant, we screened a chemical library of 320 compounds and identified four compounds that reduced spontaneous seizure-like behavior and one compound (clemizole) that inhibited convulsive behavior and electrographic seizures. Drug-resistant scn1a zebrafish mutants described here represent a new direction in modeling pediatric epilepsy and could be used to identify novel lead compounds for DS patients 4 Control sibling samples (sample= 10 pooled larvae) and 4 Nav1.1 mutants (sample= 10 pooled larvae) were collected at 6 dpf (days post fertilization). The Nav1.1 mutants were selected based on phenotype (dark color).
2014-01-04 | E-GEOD-43312 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Dravet syndrome is a type of severe childhood epilepsy that responds poorly to current anti-epileptic drugs. In recent years, zebrafish disease models with Scn1Lab sodium channel deficiency have been generated to seek novel anti-epileptic drug candidates, some of which are currently undergoing clinical trials. However, the spectrum of neuronal deficits observed following Scn1Lab depletion in zebrafish larvae has not yet been fully explored. To fill this gap and gain a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying neuron hyperexcitation in Scn1Lab-depleted larvae, we analyzed neuron activity in vivo using combined local field potential recording and transient calcium uptake imaging, studied the distribution of excitatory and inhibitory synapses and neurons as well as investigated neuron apoptosis. We found that Scn1Lab-depleted larvae displayed recurrent epileptiform seizure events, associating massive synchronous calcium uptakes and ictal-like local field potential bursts. Scn1Lab-depletion also caused a dramatic shift in the neuronal and synaptic balance toward excitation and increased neuronal death. Our results thus provide in vivo evidence suggesting that Scn1Lab loss of function causes neuron hyperexcitation as the result of disturbed synaptic balance and increased neuronal apoptosis.
| S-EPMC6829503 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy (SMEI), or Dravet syndrome (DS), is a catastrophic pediatric epilepsy with severe intellectual disability, impaired social development, and persistent drug-resistant seizures. One of its primary monogenic causes is a mutation in SCN1A (Nav1.1), a type I voltage-gated sodium channel. In mice, Nav1.1 mutation is associated with reduced sodium current, altered interneuron firing, cognitive deficits, autistic-like traits and seizures. Here we describe a larval zebrafish Nav1.1 mutant that recapitulates salient features of the human SCN1A mutation phenotype. Between three and seven days post-fertilization, Nav1.1 mutants exhibit spontaneous abnormal electrographic activity, hyperactivity and convulsive behaviors. Transcriptomic analysis of Nav1.1 mutants was remarkable for the relatively small fraction of genes that were differentially expressed (~2%) and the lack of compensatory changes in expression for other SCN subunits. Pharmacological studies confirmed an antiepileptic action for the ketogenic diet, benzodiazepine, valproate, potassium bromide and stiripentol in Nav1.1 mutants; acetazolamide, phenytoin, ethosuximide had no effect, carbamazepine and vigabatrin made seizures worse. Using this mutant, we screened a chemical library of 320 compounds and identified four compounds that reduced spontaneous seizure-like behavior and one compound (clemizole) that inhibited convulsive behavior and electrographic seizures. Drug-resistant scn1a zebrafish mutants described here represent a new direction in modeling pediatric epilepsy and could be used to identify novel lead compounds for DS patients
2014-01-04 | GSE43312 | GEO
Project description:Dravet Syndrome (DS) is a developmental epileptic encephalopathy characterized by drug-resistant seizures and other clinical features, including intellectual disability and behavioral, sleep, and gait problems. The pathogenesis is strongly connected to voltage-gated sodium channel dysfunction. The current consensus of seizure management in DS consists of a combination of conventional and recently approved drugs such as stiripentol, cannabidiol, and fenfluramine. Despite promising results in randomized clinical trials and extension studies, the prognosis of the developmental outcomes of patients with DS remains unfavorable. The article summarizes recent changes in the therapeutic approach to DS and discusses ongoing clinical research directions. Serotonergic agents under investigation show promising results and may replace less DS-specific medicines. The use of antisense nucleotides and gene therapy is focused not only on symptom relief but primarily addresses the underlying cause of the syndrome. Novel compounds, after expected safe and successful implementation in clinical practice, will open a new era for patients with DS. The main goal of causative treatment is to modify the natural course of the disease and provide the best neurodevelopmental outcome with minimum neurological deficit.
| S-EPMC10094968 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Dravet syndrome (DS) is a severe genetic epileptic encephalopathy with onset during the first year of life. Zebrafish models recapitulating human diseases are often used as drug discovery platforms, but also for drug repurposing testing. It was recently shown that pharmacological modulation of three serotonergic (5-HT) receptors (5-HT1D , 5-HT2C , 5-HT2A ) exerts antiseizure effects in a zebrafish scn1Lab-/- mutant model of DS. Using the zebrafish DS model, our aim was to examine the possibility of repurposing efavirenz (EFA), lisuride (LIS), and rizatriptan (RIZA), marketed medicines with a 5-HT on- or off-target profile, as antiepileptic drugs for DS. To examine whether these compounds have a broader antiseizure profile, they were tested in pentylenetetrazol and ethyl ketopentenoate (EKP) zebrafish models. Pharmacological effects were assessed by locomotor behavior, local field potential brain recordings, and bioluminescence. EFA was active in all models, whereas LIS was selectively active in the zebrafish DS model. Mainly, a poor response was observed to RIZA. Taken together, our preclinical results show that LIS could be a potential candidate for DS treatment. EFA was also active in the EKP model, characterized by a high level of treatment resistance, and hence these data are potentially important for future treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy.
| S-EPMC6850687 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Dravet syndrome is a life-threatening early-onset epilepsy not well controlled by antiepileptic drugs. Drugs that modulate serotonin (5-HT) signalling, including clemizole, locaserin, trazodone and fenfluramine, have recently emerged as potential treatment options for Dravet syndrome. To investigate the serotonin receptors that could moderate this antiepileptic activity, we designed and synthesized 28 novel analogues of clemizole, obtained receptor binding affinity profiles, and performed in vivo screening in a scn1lab mutant zebrafish (Danio rerio) model which recapitulates critical clinical features of Dravet syndrome. We discovered three clemizole analogues with 5-HT receptor binding that exert powerful antiepileptic activity. Based on structure-activity relationships and medicinal chemistry-based analysis, we then screened an additional set of known 5-HT receptor specific drug candidates. Integrating our in vitro and in vivo data implicates 5-HT2B receptors as a critical mediator in the mechanism of seizure suppression observed in Dravet syndrome patients treated with 5-HT modulating drugs.
| S-EPMC6798786 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Human genetics has been instrumental in identification of genetic variants linked to type 2 diabetes. Recently a rare, putative loss-of-function mutation in the orphan G-protein coupled receptor 151 (GPR151) was found to be associated with lower odds ratio for type 2 diabetes, but the mechanism behind this association has remained elusive. Here we show that Gpr151 is a fasting- and glucagon-responsive hepatic gene which regulates hepatic gluconeogenesis. Gpr151 ablation in mice leads to suppression of hepatic gluconeogenesis genes and reduced hepatic glucose production in response to pyruvate. Importantly, the restoration of hepatic Gpr151 levels in the Gpr151 knockout mice reverses the reduced hepatic glucose production. In this work, we establish a previously unknown role of Gpr151 in the liver that provides an explanation to the lowered type 2 diabetes risk in individuals with nonsynonymous mutations in GPR151.
| S-EPMC9715671 | biostudies-literature