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DCas9-based Scn1a gene activation restores inhibitory interneuron excitability and restrains epileptic crises in Dravet syndrome mice

ABSTRACT: Dravet syndrome (DS) is a severe epileptic encephalopathy caused by heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in the SCN1A gene, indicating a haploinsufficient genetic mechanism underlining this pathology. Here, we tested whether dCas9-mediated Scn1a gene activation could rescue Scn1a haploinsufficiency and restore physiological levels of its gene product, the Nav1.1 voltage-gated sodium channel. We screeened sgRNAs for their ability to stimulate Scn1a gene transcription in association with the dCas9 activation system. Interestingly, we identified one single sgRNA able to significantly increase Scn1a gene expression levels in cell lines as well as in primary neurons, with high specificity. Accordingly, levels of Nav1.1 protein were sufficiently augmented to potentiate firing ability of wild-type immature GABAergic interneurons. A similar effect in activating the Scn1a transcription was elicited in Dravet GABAergic interneurons rescuing their dysfunctional properties. To determine whether this approach could have therapeutic effect, we packaged adeno-associated viruses with the Scn1a-dCas9 activation system and showed their ability to ameliorate the febrile epileptic crises in DS mice. Our results pave the way for exploiting the dCas9-based gene activation as an effective and targeted approach to DS and other similar disorders resulting from altered gene dosage.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE111436 | GEO | 2019/03/05

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Dravet syndrome is a developmental and epileptic encephalopathy characterized by seizures, behavioral abnormalities, developmental deficits, and elevated risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Most patient cases are caused by de novo loss-of-function mutations in the gene SCN1A, causing a haploinsufficiency of the alpha subunit of the voltage-gated sodium channel NaV1.1. Within the brain, NaV1.1 is primarily localized to the axons of inhibitory neurons, and decreased NaV1.1 function is hypothesized to reduce GABAergic inhibitory neurotransmission within the brain, driving neuronal network hyperexcitability and subsequent pathology. We have developed a human in vitro model of Dravet syndrome using differentiated neurons derived from patient iPSC and enriched for GABA expressing neurons. Neurons were plated on high definition multielectrode arrays (HD-MEAs), permitting recordings from the same cultures over the 7-weeks duration of study at the network, single cell, and subcellular resolution. Using this capability, we characterized the features of axonal morphology and physiology. Neurons developed increased spiking activity and synchronous network bursting. Recordings were processed through a spike sorting pipeline for curation of single unit activity and to assess the effects of pharmacological treatments. At 7-weeks, the application of the GABAAR receptor agonist muscimol eliminated network bursting, indicating the presence of GABAergic neurotransmission. To identify the role of NaV1.1 on neuronal and network activity, cultures were treated with a dose-response of the NaV1.1 potentiator δ-theraphotoxin-Hm1a. This resulted in a strong increase in firing rates of putative GABAergic neurons, an increase in the intraburst firing rate, and eliminated network bursting. These results validate that potentiation of NaV1.1 in Dravet patient iPSC-derived neurons results in decreased firing synchrony in neuronal networks through increased GABAergic neuron activity and support the use of human neurons and HD-MEAs as viable high-throughput electrophysiological platform to enable therapeutic discovery.

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DCas9-based Scn1a gene activation restores inhibitory interneuron excitability and restrains epileptic crises in Dravet syndrome mice

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