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Howes OD, Dawkins E, Lobo MC, Kaar SJ, Beck K. New drug treatments for schizophrenia: a review of approaches to target circuit dysfunction. Biol Psychiatry 2024:S0006-3223(24)01349-0. [PMID: 38815885 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a leading cause of global disease burden. Current drug treatments are associated with significant side-effects and have limited efficacy for many patients; highlighting the need to develop new approaches that target other aspects of the neurobiology of schizophrenia. Preclinical, in vivo imaging, post-mortem, genetic and pharmacological studies have highlighted the key role of cortical GABA-glutamatergic microcircuits and their projections to subcortical dopaminergic circuits in the pathoetiology of negative, cognitive and psychotic symptoms. Antipsychotics primarily act downstream of the dopaminergic component of this circuit. However, multiple drugs are currently in development that could target other elements of this circuit to treat schizophrenia. These include drugs for GABA or glutamatergic targets, including glycine transporters, d-amino acid oxidase, sodium channels or potassium channels. Other drugs in development are likely to primarily act on pathways that regulate the dopaminergic system such as muscarinic or trace amine receptors or serotonin 2A receptors, whilst phosphodiesterase 10 A inhibitors are being developed to modulate the downstream consequences of dopaminergic dysfunction. Our review considers where new drugs may act on this circuit and their latest clinical trial evidence in terms of indication, efficacy and side-effects. Limitations of the circuit model, including whether there are neurobiologically distinct subgroups of patients, and future directions are also considered. Several drugs based on the mechanisms reviewed have promising clinical data, with the muscarinic agonist KarXT most advanced. If they are approved for clinical use, they have the potential to revolutionise understanding of the pathophysiology and treatment of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver D Howes
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK; South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Maudsley Hospital, London, UK.
| | - Eleanor Dawkins
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Maudsley Hospital, London, UK
| | - Maria C Lobo
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Maudsley Hospital, London, UK
| | - Stephen J Kaar
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Katherine Beck
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Maudsley Hospital, London, UK
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2
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Uliana DL, Lisboa JRF, Gomes FV, Grace AA. The excitatory-inhibitory balance as a target for the development of novel drugs to treat schizophrenia. Biochem Pharmacol 2024:116298. [PMID: 38782077 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The intricate balance between excitation and inhibition (E/I) in the brain plays a crucial role in normative information processing. Dysfunctions in the E/I balance have been implicated in various psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia (SCZ). In particular, abnormalities in GABAergic signaling, specifically in parvalbumin (PV)-containing interneurons, have been consistently observed in SCZ pathophysiology. PV interneuron function is vital for maintaining an ideal E/I balance, and alterations in PV interneuron-mediated inhibition contribute to circuit deficits observed in SCZ, including hippocampus hyperactivity and midbrain dopamine system overdrive. While current antipsychotic medications primarily target D2 dopamine receptors and are effective primarily in treating positive symptoms, novel therapeutic strategies aiming to restore the E/I balance could potentially mitigate not only positive symptoms but also negative symptoms and cognitive deficits. This could involve, for instance, increasing the inhibitory drive onto excitatory neurons or decreasing the putative enhanced pyramidal neuron activity due to functional loss of PV interneurons. Compounds targeting the glycine site at glutamate NMDA receptors and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors on PV interneurons that can increase PV interneuron drive, as well as drugs that increase the postsynaptic action of GABA, such as positive allosteric modulators of α5-GABA-A receptors, and decrease glutamatergic output, such as mGluR2/3 agonists, represent promising approaches. Preventive strategies aiming at E/I balance also represent a path to reduce the risk of transitioning to SCZ in high-risk individuals. Therefore, compounds with novel mechanisms targeting E/I balance provide optimism for more effective and tailored interventions in the management of SCZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela L Uliana
- Departments of Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Joao Roberto F Lisboa
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Felipe V Gomes
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Anthony A Grace
- Departments of Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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3
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Liang Q, Chi G, Cirqueira L, Zhi L, Marasco A, Pilati N, Gunthorpe MJ, Alvaro G, Large CH, Sauer DB, Treptow W, Covarrubias M. The binding and mechanism of a positive allosteric modulator of Kv3 channels. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2533. [PMID: 38514618 PMCID: PMC10957983 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46813-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Small-molecule modulators of diverse voltage-gated K+ (Kv) channels may help treat a wide range of neurological disorders. However, developing effective modulators requires understanding of their mechanism of action. We apply an orthogonal approach to elucidate the mechanism of action of an imidazolidinedione derivative (AUT5), a highly selective positive allosteric modulator of Kv3.1 and Kv3.2 channels. AUT5 modulation involves positive cooperativity and preferential stabilization of the open state. The cryo-EM structure of the Kv3.1/AUT5 complex at a resolution of 2.5 Å reveals four equivalent AUT5 binding sites at the extracellular inter-subunit interface between the voltage-sensing and pore domains of the channel's tetrameric assembly. Furthermore, we show that the unique extracellular turret regions of Kv3.1 and Kv3.2 essentially govern the selective positive modulation by AUT5. High-resolution apo and bound structures of Kv3.1 demonstrate how AUT5 binding promotes turret rearrangements and interactions with the voltage-sensing domain to favor the open conformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiansheng Liang
- Department of Neuroscience,, Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
- Jack and Vicki Farber Institute for Neuroscience and the Jefferson Synaptic Biology Center, Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - Gamma Chi
- Centre for Medicines Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Leonardo Cirqueira
- Laboratorio de Biologia Teorica e Computacional, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Lianteng Zhi
- Department of Neuroscience,, Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
- Jack and Vicki Farber Institute for Neuroscience and the Jefferson Synaptic Biology Center, Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - Agostino Marasco
- Autifony Srl, Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Citta' della Speranza, Via Corso Stati Uniti, 4f, 35127, Padua, Italy
| | - Nadia Pilati
- Autifony Srl, Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Citta' della Speranza, Via Corso Stati Uniti, 4f, 35127, Padua, Italy
| | - Martin J Gunthorpe
- Autifony Therapeutics, Ltd, Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, SG1 2FX, UK
| | - Giuseppe Alvaro
- Autifony Srl, Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Citta' della Speranza, Via Corso Stati Uniti, 4f, 35127, Padua, Italy
| | - Charles H Large
- Autifony Therapeutics, Ltd, Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, SG1 2FX, UK
| | - David B Sauer
- Centre for Medicines Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Werner Treptow
- Laboratorio de Biologia Teorica e Computacional, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Manuel Covarrubias
- Department of Neuroscience,, Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA.
- Jack and Vicki Farber Institute for Neuroscience and the Jefferson Synaptic Biology Center, Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA.
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4
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Page CE, Coutellier L. Kv3.1 Voltage-gated Potassium Channels Modulate Anxiety-like Behaviors in Female Mice. Neuroscience 2024; 538:68-79. [PMID: 38157976 PMCID: PMC10872248 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Inhibitory parvalbumin (PV) interneurons regulate the activity of neural circuits within brain regions involved in emotional processing, including the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Recently, rodent studies have implicated a stress-induced increase in prefrontal PV neuron activity in the development of anxiety behaviors, particularly in females. However, the mechanisms through which stress increases activity of prefrontal PV neurons remain unknown. The fast-spiking properties of PV neurons in part come from their expression of voltage-gated potassium (K+) ion channels, particularly Kv3.1 channels. We therefore suggest that stress-induced changes in Kv3.1 channels contribute to the appearance of an anxious phenotype following chronic stress in female mice. Here, we first showed that unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) increased expression of Kv3.1 channels on prefrontal PV neurons in female mice, a potential mechanism underlying the previously observed hyperactivity of these neurons after stress. We then showed that female mice deficient in Kv3.1 channels displayed resilience to UCMS-induced anxiety-like behaviors. Altogether, our findings implicate Kv3.1 channels in the development of anxiety-like behaviors following UCMS, particularly in females, providing a novel mechanism to understand sex-specific vulnerabilities to stress-induced psychopathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe E Page
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Laurence Coutellier
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States; Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.
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5
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Lai H, Gao M, Yang H. The potassium channels: Neurobiology and pharmacology of tinnitus. J Neurosci Res 2024; 102:e25281. [PMID: 38284861 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Tinnitus is a widespread public health issue that imposes a significant social burden. The occurrence and maintenance of tinnitus have been shown to be associated with abnormal neuronal activity in the auditory pathway. Based on this view, neurobiological and pharmacological developments in tinnitus focus on ion channels and synaptic neurotransmitter receptors in neurons in the auditory pathway. With major breakthroughs in the pathophysiology and research methodology of tinnitus in recent years, the role of the largest family of ion channels, potassium ion channels, in modulating the excitability of neurons involved in tinnitus has been increasingly demonstrated. More and more potassium channels involved in the neural mechanism of tinnitus have been discovered, and corresponding drugs have been developed. In this article, we review animal (mouse, rat, hamster, and guinea-pig), human, and genetic studies on the different potassium channels involved in tinnitus, analyze the limitations of current clinical research on potassium channels, and propose future prospects. The aim of this review is to promote the understanding of the role of potassium ion channels in tinnitus and to advance the development of drugs targeting potassium ion channels for tinnitus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haohong Lai
- Department of Otolaryngology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Minqian Gao
- Department of Otolaryngology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Hearing and Speech-Language Science, Guangzhou Xinhua University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haidi Yang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Hearing and Speech-Language Science, Guangzhou Xinhua University, Guangzhou, China
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6
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Stubbendorff C, Hale E, Day HLL, Smith J, Alvaro GS, Large CH, Stevenson CW. Pharmacological modulation of Kv3 voltage-gated potassium channels regulates fear discrimination and expression in a response-dependent manner. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2023; 127:110829. [PMID: 37451593 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Various psychiatric diseases are characterized by aberrant cognition and emotional regulation. This includes inappropriately attributing affective salience to innocuous cues, which can be investigated using translationally relevant preclinical models of fear discrimination. Activity in the underpinning corticolimbic circuitry is governed by parvalbumin-expressing GABAergic interneurons, which also regulate fear discrimination. Kv3 voltage-gated potassium channels are highly expressed in these neurons and are important for controlling their activity, suggesting that pharmacological Kv3 modulation may regulate fear discrimination. We determined the effect of the positive Kv3 modulator AUT00206 given systemically to female rats undergoing limited or extended auditory fear discrimination training, which we have previously shown results in more discrimination or generalization, respectively, based on freezing at retrieval. We also characterized darting and other active fear-related responses. We found that limited training resulted in more discrimination based on freezing, which was unaffected by AUT00206. In contrast, extended training resulted in more generalization based on freezing and the emergence of discrimination based on darting during training and, to a lesser extent, at retrieval. Importantly, AUT00206 given before extended training had dissociable effects on fear discrimination and expression at retrieval depending on the response examined. While AUT00206 mitigated generalization without affecting expression based on freezing, it reduced expression without affecting discrimination based on darting, although darting levels were low overall. These results indicate that pharmacological Kv3 modulation regulates fear discrimination and expression in a response-dependent manner. They also raise the possibility that targeting Kv3 channels may ameliorate perturbed cognition and emotional regulation in psychiatric disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Stubbendorff
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Ed Hale
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Harriet L L Day
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Jessica Smith
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Giuseppe S Alvaro
- Autifony Therapeutics Limited, Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage SG1 2FX, UK
| | - Charles H Large
- Autifony Therapeutics Limited, Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage SG1 2FX, UK
| | - Carl W Stevenson
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK.
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7
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Chen YT, Hong MR, Zhang XJ, Kostas J, Li Y, Kraus RL, Santarelli VP, Wang D, Gomez-Llorente Y, Brooun A, Strickland C, Soisson SM, Klein DJ, Ginnetti AT, Marino MJ, Stachel SJ, Ishchenko A. Identification, structural, and biophysical characterization of a positive modulator of human Kv3.1 channels. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2220029120. [PMID: 37812700 PMCID: PMC10589703 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2220029120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Voltage-gated potassium channels (Kv) are tetrameric membrane proteins that provide a highly selective pathway for potassium ions (K+) to diffuse across a hydrophobic cell membrane. These unique voltage-gated cation channels detect changes in membrane potential and, upon activation, help to return the depolarized cell to a resting state during the repolarization stage of each action potential. The Kv3 family of potassium channels is characterized by a high activation potential and rapid kinetics, which play a crucial role for the fast-spiking neuronal phenotype. Mutations in the Kv3.1 channel have been shown to have implications in various neurological diseases like epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease. Moreover, disruptions in neuronal circuitry involving Kv3.1 have been correlated with negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Here, we report the discovery of a novel positive modulator of Kv3.1, investigate its biophysical properties, and determine the cryo-EM structure of the compound in complex with Kv3.1. Structural analysis reveals the molecular determinants of positive modulation in Kv3.1 channels by this class of compounds and provides additional opportunities for rational drug design for the treatment of associated neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Ting Chen
- Computational and Structural Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ07033
| | - Mee Ra Hong
- Computational and Structural Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, PA19486
| | - Xin-Jun Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, PA19486
| | - James Kostas
- Computational and Structural Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, PA19486
| | - Yuxing Li
- Department of Neuroscience, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, PA19486
| | - Richard L. Kraus
- Department of Neuroscience, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, PA19486
| | | | - Deping Wang
- Computational and Structural Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, PA19486
| | | | - Alexei Brooun
- Computational and Structural Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, PA19486
| | - Corey Strickland
- Computational and Structural Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ07033
| | - Stephen M. Soisson
- Computational and Structural Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, PA19486
| | - Daniel J. Klein
- Computational and Structural Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, PA19486
| | | | | | | | - Andrii Ishchenko
- Computational and Structural Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, PA19486
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Laing BT, Anderson MS, Bonaventura J, Jayan A, Sarsfield S, Gajendiran A, Michaelides M, Aponte Y. Anterior hypothalamic parvalbumin neurons are glutamatergic and promote escape behavior. Curr Biol 2023; 33:3215-3228.e7. [PMID: 37490921 PMCID: PMC10529150 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.06.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
The anterior hypothalamic area (AHA) is a critical structure for defensive responding. Here, we identified a cluster of parvalbumin-expressing neurons in the AHA (AHAPV) that are glutamatergic with fast-spiking properties and send axonal projections to the dorsal premammillary nucleus (PMD). Using in vivo functional imaging, optogenetics, and behavioral assays, we determined the role of these AHAPV neurons in regulating behaviors essential for survival. We observed that AHAPV neuronal activity significantly increases when mice are exposed to a predator, and in a real-time place preference assay, we found that AHAPV neuron photoactivation is aversive. Moreover, activation of both AHAPV neurons and the AHAPV → PMD pathway triggers escape responding during a predator-looming test. Furthermore, escape responding is impaired after AHAPV neuron ablation, and anxiety-like behavior as measured by the open field and elevated plus maze assays does not seem to be affected by AHAPV neuron ablation. Finally, whole-brain metabolic mapping using positron emission tomography combined with AHAPV neuron photoactivation revealed discrete activation of downstream areas involved in arousal, affective, and defensive behaviors including the amygdala and the substantia nigra. Our results indicate that AHAPV neurons are a functional glutamatergic circuit element mediating defensive behaviors, thus expanding the identity of genetically defined neurons orchestrating fight-or-flight responses. Together, our work will serve as a foundation for understanding neuropsychiatric disorders triggered by escape such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenton T Laing
- Neuronal Circuits and Behavior Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224-6823, USA
| | - Megan S Anderson
- Neuronal Circuits and Behavior Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224-6823, USA
| | - Jordi Bonaventura
- Biobehavioral Imaging and Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224-6823, USA
| | - Aishwarya Jayan
- Neuronal Circuits and Behavior Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224-6823, USA
| | - Sarah Sarsfield
- Neuronal Circuits and Behavior Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224-6823, USA
| | - Anjali Gajendiran
- Neuronal Circuits and Behavior Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224-6823, USA
| | - Michael Michaelides
- Biobehavioral Imaging and Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224-6823, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Yeka Aponte
- Neuronal Circuits and Behavior Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224-6823, USA; The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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9
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Woodward E, Rangel-Barajas C, Ringland A, Logrip ML, Coutellier L. Sex-Specific Timelines for Adaptations of Prefrontal Parvalbumin Neurons in Response to Stress and Changes in Anxiety- and Depressive-Like Behaviors. eNeuro 2023; 10:ENEURO.0300-22.2023. [PMID: 36808099 PMCID: PMC9997696 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0300-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Women are twice as likely as men to experience emotional dysregulation after stress, resulting in substantially higher psychopathology for equivalent lifetime stress exposure, yet the mechanisms underlying this vulnerability remain unknown. Studies suggest changes in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) activity as a potential contributor. Whether maladaptive changes in inhibitory interneurons participate in this process, and whether adaptations in response to stress differ between men and women, producing sex-specific changes in emotional behaviors and mPFC activity, remained undetermined. This study examined whether unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) in mice differentially alters behavior and mPFC parvalbumin (PV) interneuron activity by sex, and whether the activity of these neurons drives sex-specific behavioral changes. Four weeks of UCMS increased anxiety-like and depressive-like behaviors associated with FosB activation in mPFC PV neurons, particularly in females. After 8 weeks of UCMS, both sexes displayed these behavioral and neural changes. Chemogenetic activation of PV neurons in UCMS-exposed and nonstressed males induced significant changes in anxiety-like behaviors. Importantly, patch-clamp electrophysiology demonstrated altered excitability and basic neural properties on the same timeline as the emergence of behavioral effects: changes in females after 4 weeks and in males after 8 weeks of UCMS. These findings show, for the first time, that sex-specific changes in the excitability of prefrontal PV neurons parallel the emergence of anxiety-like behavior, revealing a potential novel mechanism underlying the enhanced vulnerability of females to stress-induced psychopathology and supporting further investigation of this neuronal population to identify new therapeutic targets for stress disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Woodward
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
| | - Claudia Rangel-Barajas
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
| | - Amanda Ringland
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
| | - Marian L Logrip
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
| | - Laurence Coutellier
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
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10
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Angelescu I, Kaar SJ, Marques TR, Borgan F, Veronesse M, Sharman A, Sajjala A, Deakin B, Hutchison J, Large C, Howes OD. The effect of AUT00206, a Kv3 potassium channel modulator, on dopamine synthesis capacity and the reliability of [ 18F]-FDOPA imaging in schizophrenia. J Psychopharmacol 2022; 36:1061-1069. [PMID: 36164687 PMCID: PMC9554157 DOI: 10.1177/02698811221122031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current treatments for schizophrenia act directly on dopamine (DA) receptors but are ineffective for many patients, highlighting the need to develop new treatment approaches. Striatal DA dysfunction, indexed using [18F]-FDOPA imaging, is linked to the pathoetiology of schizophrenia. We evaluated the effect of a novel drug, AUT00206, a Kv3.1/3.2 potassium channel modulator, on dopaminergic function in schizophrenia and its relationship with symptom change. Additionally, we investigated the test-retest reliability of [18F]-FDOPA PET in schizophrenia to determine its potential as a biomarker for drug discovery. METHODS Twenty patients with schizophrenia received symptom measures and [18F]-FDOPA PET scans, before and after being randomised to AUT00206 or placebo groups for up to 28 days treatment. RESULTS AUT00206 had no significant effect on DA synthesis capacity. However, there was a correlation between reduction in striatal dopamine synthesis capacity (indexed as Kicer) and reduction in symptoms, in the AUT00206 group (r = 0.58, p = 0.03). This was not observed in the placebo group (r = -0.15, p = 0.75), although the placebo group may have been underpowered to detect an effect. The intraclass correlation coefficients of [18F]-FDOPA indices in the placebo group ranged from 0.83 to 0.93 across striatal regions. CONCLUSIONS The relationship between reduction in DA synthesis capacity and improvement in symptoms in the AUT00206 group provides evidence for a pharmacodynamic effect of the Kv3 channel modulator. The lack of a significant overall reduction in DA synthesis capacity in the AUT00206 group could be due to variability and the low number of subjects in this study. These findings support further investigation of Kv3 channel modulators for schizophrenia treatment. [18F]-FDOPA PET imaging showed very good test-retest reliability in patients with schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilinca Angelescu
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Stephen J Kaar
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Tiago Reis Marques
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Faith Borgan
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Mattia Veronesse
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,Department of Information Engineering, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Alice Sharman
- Autifony Therapeutics Limited, Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Stevenage, UK
| | - Anil Sajjala
- Autifony Therapeutics Limited, Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Stevenage, UK
| | - Bill Deakin
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - John Hutchison
- Autifony Therapeutics Limited, Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Stevenage, UK
| | - Charles Large
- Autifony Therapeutics Limited, Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Stevenage, UK
| | - Oliver D Howes
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
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11
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Hearing loss drug discovery and medicinal chemistry: Current status, challenges, and opportunities. PROGRESS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY 2022; 61:1-91. [PMID: 35753714 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmch.2022.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Hearing loss is a severe high unmet need condition affecting more than 1.5 billion people globally. There are no licensed medicines for the prevention, treatment or restoration of hearing. Prosthetic devices, such as hearing aids and cochlear implants, do not restore natural hearing and users struggle with speech in the presence of background noise. Hearing loss drug discovery is immature, and small molecule approaches include repurposing existing drugs, combination therapeutics, late-stage discovery optimisation of known chemotypes for identified molecular targets of interest, phenotypic tissue screening and high-throughput cell-based screening. Hearing loss drug discovery requires the integration of specialist therapeutic area biology and otology clinical expertise. Small molecule drug discovery projects in the global clinical portfolio for hearing loss are here collated and reviewed. An overview is provided of human hearing, inner ear anatomy, inner ear delivery, types of hearing loss and hearing measurement. Small molecule experimental drugs in clinical development for hearing loss are reviewed, including their underpinning biology, discovery strategy and activities, medicinal chemistry, calculated physicochemical properties, pharmacokinetics and clinical trial status. SwissADME BOILED-Egg permeability modelling is applied to the molecules reviewed, and these results are considered. Non-small molecule hearing loss assets in clinical development are briefly noted in this review. Future opportunities in hearing loss drug discovery for human genomics and targeted protein degradation are highlighted.
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12
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Botte M, Huber S, Bucher D, Klint JK, Rodríguez D, Tagmose L, Chami M, Cheng R, Hennig M, Abdul Rahman W. Apo and ligand-bound high resolution Cryo-EM structures of the human Kv3.1 channel reveal a novel binding site for positive modulators. PNAS NEXUS 2022; 1:pgac083. [PMID: 36741467 PMCID: PMC9896932 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Kv3 ion-channels constitute a class of functionally distinct voltage-gated ion channels characterized by their ability to fire at a high frequency. Several disease relevant mutants, together with biological data, suggest the importance of this class of ion channels as drug targets for CNS disorders, and several drug discovery efforts have been reported. Despite the increasing interest for this class of ion channels, no structure of a Kv3 channel has been reported yet. We have determined the cryo-EM structure of Kv3.1 at 2.6 Å resolution using full-length wild type protein. When compared to known structures for potassium channels from other classes, a novel domain organization is observed with the cytoplasmic T1 domain, containing a well-resolved Zinc site and displaying a rotation by 35°. This suggests a distinct cytoplasmic regulation mechanism for the Kv3.1 channel. A high resolution structure was obtained for Kv3.1 in complex with a novel positive modulator Lu AG00563. The structure reveals a novel ligand binding site for the Kv class of ion channels located between the voltage sensory domain and the channel pore, a region which constitutes a hotspot for disease causing mutations. The discovery of a novel binding site for a positive modulator of a voltage-gated potassium channel could shed light on the mechanism of action for these small molecule potentiators. This finding could enable structure-based drug design on these targets with high therapeutic potential for the treatment of multiple CNS disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Botte
- leadXpro AG, PARK InnovAARE, 5234 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Sophie Huber
- leadXpro AG, PARK InnovAARE, 5234 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Denis Bucher
- leadXpro AG, PARK InnovAARE, 5234 Villigen, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Lena Tagmose
- H. Lundbeck A/S, Ottiliavej 9, 2500 Valby, Denmark
| | - Mohamed Chami
- BioEM laboratory, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 41, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Robert Cheng
- leadXpro AG, PARK InnovAARE, 5234 Villigen, Switzerland
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13
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Yanagi M, Tsuchiya A, Hosomi F, Ozaki S, Shirakawa O. Application of evoked response audiometry for specifying aberrant gamma oscillations in schizophrenia. Sci Rep 2022; 12:287. [PMID: 34997139 PMCID: PMC8741931 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-04278-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Gamma oscillations probed using auditory steady-state response (ASSR) are promising clinical biomarkers that may give rise to novel therapeutic interventions for schizophrenia. Optimizing clinical settings for these biomarker-driven interventions will require a quick and easy assessment system for gamma oscillations in psychiatry. ASSR has been used in clinical otolaryngology for evoked response audiometry (ERA) in order to judge hearing loss by focusing on the phase-locked response detectability via an automated analysis system. Herein, a standard ERA system with 40- and 46-Hz ASSRs was applied to evaluate the brain pathophysiology of patients with schizophrenia. Both ASSRs in the ERA system showed excellent detectability regarding the phase-locked response in healthy subjects and sharply captured the deficits of the phase-locked response caused by aberrant gamma oscillations in individuals with schizophrenia. These findings demonstrate the capability of the ERA system to specify patients who have aberrant gamma oscillations. The ERA system may have a potential to serve as a real-world clinical medium for upcoming biomarker-driven therapeutics in psychiatry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaya Yanagi
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Kindai University, 377-2 Ohnohigashi, Osaka-sayama, Osaka, 589-8511, Japan.
| | - Aki Tsuchiya
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Kindai University, 377-2 Ohnohigashi, Osaka-sayama, Osaka, 589-8511, Japan
| | - Fumiharu Hosomi
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Kindai University, 377-2 Ohnohigashi, Osaka-sayama, Osaka, 589-8511, Japan
| | | | - Osamu Shirakawa
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Kindai University, 377-2 Ohnohigashi, Osaka-sayama, Osaka, 589-8511, Japan
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14
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Kv3 Channels Contribute to the Excitability of Subpopulations of Spinal Cord Neurons in Lamina VII. eNeuro 2022; 9:ENEURO.0510-21.2021. [PMID: 35058310 PMCID: PMC8868027 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0510-21.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Autonomic parasympathetic preganglionic neurons (PGNs) drive contraction of the bladder during micturition but remain quiescent during bladder filling. This quiescence is postulated to be because of recurrent inhibition of PGN by fast-firing adjoining interneurons. Here, we defined four distinct neuronal types within Lamina VII, where PGN are situated, by combining whole cell patch clamp recordings with k-means clustering of a range of electrophysiological parameters. Additional morphologic analysis separated these neuronal classes into parasympathetic preganglionic populations (PGN) and a fast-firing interneuronal population. Kv3 channels are voltage-gated potassium channels (Kv) that allow fast and precise firing of neurons. We found that blockade of Kv3 channels by tetraethylammonium (TEA) reduced neuronal firing frequency and isolated high-voltage-activated Kv currents in the fast-firing population but had no effect in PGN populations. Furthermore, Kv3 blockade potentiated the local and descending inhibitory inputs to PGN indicating that Kv3-expressing inhibitory neurons are synaptically connected to PGN. Taken together, our data reveal that Kv3 channels are crucial for fast and regulated neuronal output of a defined population that may be involved in intrinsic spinal bladder circuits that underpin recurrent inhibition of PGN.
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15
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Pinna A, Colasanti A. The Neurometabolic Basis of Mood Instability: The Parvalbumin Interneuron Link-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:689473. [PMID: 34616292 PMCID: PMC8488267 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.689473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The neurobiological bases of mood instability are poorly understood. Neuronal network alterations and neurometabolic abnormalities have been implicated in the pathophysiology of mood and anxiety conditions associated with mood instability and hence are candidate mechanisms underlying its neurobiology. Fast-spiking parvalbumin GABAergic interneurons modulate the activity of principal excitatory neurons through their inhibitory action determining precise neuronal excitation balance. These interneurons are directly involved in generating neuronal networks activities responsible for sustaining higher cerebral functions and are especially vulnerable to metabolic stress associated with deficiency of energy substrates or mitochondrial dysfunction. Parvalbumin interneurons are therefore candidate key players involved in mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of brain disorders associated with both neuronal networks' dysfunction and brain metabolism dysregulation. To provide empirical support to this hypothesis, we hereby report meta-analytical evidence of parvalbumin interneurons loss or dysfunction in the brain of patients with Bipolar Affective Disorder (BPAD), a condition primarily characterized by mood instability for which the pathophysiological role of mitochondrial dysfunction has recently emerged as critically important. We then present a comprehensive review of evidence from the literature illustrating the bidirectional relationship between deficiency in mitochondrial-dependent energy production and parvalbumin interneuron abnormalities. We propose a mechanistic explanation of how alterations in neuronal excitability, resulting from parvalbumin interneurons loss or dysfunction, might manifest clinically as mood instability, a poorly understood clinical phenotype typical of the most severe forms of affective disorders. The evidence we report provides insights on the broader therapeutic potential of pharmacologically targeting parvalbumin interneurons in psychiatric and neurological conditions characterized by both neurometabolic and neuroexcitability abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonello Pinna
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom.,Department of Neuroscience, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Alessandro Colasanti
- Department of Neuroscience, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
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16
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Nomura T. Interneuron Dysfunction and Inhibitory Deficits in Autism and Fragile X Syndrome. Cells 2021; 10:cells10102610. [PMID: 34685590 PMCID: PMC8534049 DOI: 10.3390/cells10102610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The alteration of excitatory–inhibitory (E–I) balance has been implicated in various neurological and psychiatric diseases, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a single-gene disorder that is the most common known cause of ASD. Understanding the molecular and physiological features of FXS is thought to enhance our knowledge of the pathophysiology of ASD. Accumulated evidence implicates deficits in the inhibitory circuits in FXS that tips E–I balance toward excitation. Deficits in interneurons, the main source of an inhibitory neurotransmitter, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), have been reported in FXS, including a reduced number of cells, reduction in intrinsic cellular excitability, or weaker synaptic connectivity. Manipulating the interneuron activity ameliorated the symptoms in the FXS mouse model, which makes it reasonable to conceptualize FXS as an interneuronopathy. While it is still poorly understood how the developmental profiles of the inhibitory circuit go awry in FXS, recent works have uncovered several developmental alterations in the functional properties of interneurons. Correcting disrupted E–I balance by potentiating the inhibitory circuit by targeting interneurons may have a therapeutic potential in FXS. I will review the recent evidence about the inhibitory alterations and interneuron dysfunction in ASD and FXS and will discuss the future directions of this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshihiro Nomura
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
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17
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OIsen T, Capurro A, Švent M, Pilati N, Large C, Hartell N, Hamann M. Sparsely Distributed, Pre-synaptic Kv3 K + Channels Control Spontaneous Firing and Cross-Unit Synchrony via the Regulation of Synaptic Noise in an Auditory Brainstem Circuit. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:721371. [PMID: 34539351 PMCID: PMC8446535 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.721371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spontaneous subthreshold activity in the central nervous system is fundamental to information processing and transmission, as it amplifies and optimizes sub-threshold signals, thereby improving action potential initiation and maintaining reliable firing. This form of spontaneous activity, which is frequently considered noise, is particularly important at auditory synapses where acoustic information is encoded by rapid and temporally precise firing rates. In contrast, when present in excess, this form of noise becomes detrimental to acoustic information as it contributes to the generation and maintenance of auditory disorders such as tinnitus. The most prominent contribution to subthreshold noise is spontaneous synaptic transmission (synaptic noise). Although numerous studies have examined the role of synaptic noise on single cell excitability, little is known about its pre-synaptic modulation owing in part to the difficulties of combining noise modulation with monitoring synaptic release. Here we study synaptic noise in the auditory brainstem dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN) of mice and show that pharmacological potentiation of Kv3 K+ currents reduces the level of synaptic bombardment onto DCN principal fusiform cells. Using a transgenic mouse line (SyG37) expressing SyGCaMP2-mCherry, a calcium sensor that targets pre-synaptic terminals, we show that positive Kv3 K+ current modulation decreases calcium influx in a fifth of pre-synaptic boutons. Furthermore, while maintaining rapid and precise spike timing, positive Kv3 K+ current modulation increases the synchronization of local circuit neurons by reducing spontaneous activity. In conclusion, our study identifies a unique pre-synaptic mechanism which reduces synaptic noise at auditory synapses and contributes to the coherent activation of neurons in a local auditory brainstem circuit. This form of modulation highlights a new therapeutic target, namely the pre-synaptic bouton, for ameliorating the effects of hearing disorders which are dependent on aberrant spontaneous activity within the central auditory system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy OIsen
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom.,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Alberto Capurro
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom.,Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Maša Švent
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | | | - Charles Large
- Autifony Therapeutics Limited, Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Stevenage, United Kingdom
| | - Nick Hartell
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Martine Hamann
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom.,Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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18
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Carpenter JC, Männikkö R, Heffner C, Heneine J, Sampedro‐Castañeda M, Lignani G, Schorge S. Progressive myoclonus epilepsy KCNC1 variant causes a developmental dendritopathy. Epilepsia 2021; 62:1256-1267. [PMID: 33735526 PMCID: PMC8436768 DOI: 10.1111/epi.16867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Mutations in KCNC1 can cause severe neurological dysfunction, including intellectual disability, epilepsy, and ataxia. The Arg320His variant, which occurs in the voltage-sensing domain of the channel, causes a highly penetrant and specific form of progressive myoclonus epilepsy with severe ataxia, designated myoclonus epilepsy and ataxia due to potassium channel mutation (MEAK). KCNC1 encodes the voltage-gated potassium channel KV 3.1, a channel that is important for enabling high-frequency firing in interneurons, raising the possibility that MEAK is associated with reduced interneuronal function. METHODS To determine how this variant triggers MEAK, we expressed KV 3.1bR320H in cortical interneurons in vitro and investigated the effects on neuronal function and morphology. We also performed electrophysiological recordings of oocytes expressing KV 3.1b to determine whether the mutation introduces gating pore currents. RESULTS Expression of the KV 3.1bR320H variant profoundly reduced excitability of mature cortical interneurons, and cells expressing these channels were unable to support high-frequency firing. The mutant channel also had an unexpected effect on morphology, severely impairing neurite development and interneuron viability, an effect that could not be rescued by blocking KV 3 channels. Oocyte recordings confirmed that in the adult KV 3.1b isoform, R320H confers a dominant negative loss-of-function effect by slowing channel activation, but does not introduce potentially toxic gating pore currents. SIGNIFICANCE Overall, our data suggest that, in addition to the regulation of high-frequency firing, KV 3.1 channels play a hitherto unrecognized role in neuronal development. MEAK may be described as a developmental dendritopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna C. Carpenter
- Department of Clinical and Experimental EpilepsyUniversity College London Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUK
| | - Roope Männikkö
- Department of Neuromuscular DiseasesUniversity College London Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUK
| | - Catherine Heffner
- Department of Clinical and Experimental EpilepsyUniversity College London Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUK
| | - Jana Heneine
- Department of Clinical and Experimental EpilepsyUniversity College London Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUK
| | - Marisol Sampedro‐Castañeda
- Department of Clinical and Experimental EpilepsyUniversity College London Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUK
| | - Gabriele Lignani
- Department of Clinical and Experimental EpilepsyUniversity College London Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUK
| | - Stephanie Schorge
- Department of PharmacologyUniversity College London School of PharmacyLondonUK
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19
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Gomes FV, Grace AA. Beyond Dopamine Receptor Antagonism: New Targets for Schizophrenia Treatment and Prevention. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:4467. [PMID: 33922888 PMCID: PMC8123139 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Treatment of schizophrenia (SCZ) historically relies on the use of antipsychotic drugs to treat psychosis, with all of the currently available antipsychotics acting through the antagonism of dopamine D2 receptors. Although antipsychotics reduce psychotic symptoms in many patients, they induce numerous undesirable effects and are not effective against negative and cognitive symptoms. These highlight the need to develop new drugs to treat SCZ. An advanced understanding of the circuitry of SCZ has pointed to pathological origins in the excitation/inhibition balance in regions such as the hippocampus, and restoring function in this region, particularly as a means to compensate for parvalbumin (PV) interneuron loss and resultant hippocampal hyperactivity, may be a more efficacious approach to relieve a broad range of SCZ symptoms. Other targets, such as cholinergic receptors and the trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1), have also shown some promise for the treatment of SCZ. Importantly, assessing efficacy of novel compounds must take into consideration treatment history of the patient, as preclinical studies suggest prior antipsychotic treatment may interfere with the efficacy of these novel agents. However, while novel therapeutic targets may be more effective in treating SCZ, a more effective approach would be to prevent the transition to SCZ in susceptible individuals. A focus on stress, which has been shown to be a predisposing factor in risk for SCZ, is a possible avenue that has shown promise in preclinical studies. Therefore, therapeutic approaches based on our current understanding of the circuitry of SCZ and its etiology are likely to enable development of more effective therapeutic interventions for this complex disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe V. Gomes
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto 01000-000, Brazil;
| | - Anthony A. Grace
- Departments of Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
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20
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Rybalko N, Popelář J, Šuta D, Svobodová Burianová J, Alvaro GS, Large CH, Syka J. Effect of Kv3 channel modulators on auditory temporal resolution in aged Fischer 344 rats. Hear Res 2020; 401:108139. [PMID: 33348192 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2020.108139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
AUT00063 and AUT00202 are novel pharmaceutical modulators of the Kv3 subfamily of voltage-gated K+ channels. Kv3.1 channels, which control fast firing of many central auditory neurons, have been shown to decline with age and this may contribute to age-related deficits in central auditory processing. In the present study, the effects of the two novel compounds that specifically modulate Kv3 channels on auditory temporal processing were examined in aged (19-25-month-old) and young-adult (3-5 month-old) Fischer 344 rats (F344) using a behavioral gap-prepulse inhibition (gap-PPI) paradigm. The acoustic startle response (ASR) and its inhibition induced by a gap in noise were measured before and after drug administration. Hearing thresholds in tested rats were evaluated by the auditory brainstem response (ABR). Aged F344 rats had significantly higher ABR thresholds, lower amplitudes of ASR, and weaker gap-PPI compared with young-adult rats. No influence of AUT00063 and AUT00202 administration was observed on ABR hearing thresholds in rats of both age groups. AUT00063 and AUT00202 had suppressive effect on ASR of F344 rats that was more pronounced with AUT00063. The degree of suppression depended on the dose and age of the rats. Both compounds significantly improved the gap-PPI performance in gap detection tests in aged rats. These results indicate that AUT00063 and AUT00202 may influence intrinsic firing properties of neurons in the central auditory system of aged animals and have the potential to treat aged-related hearing disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Rybalko
- Department of Auditory Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 14220 Prague 4, Czech Republic.
| | - Jiří Popelář
- Department of Auditory Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 14220 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Šuta
- Department of Auditory Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 14220 Prague 4, Czech Republic; Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Svobodová Burianová
- Department of Auditory Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 14220 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Giuseppe S Alvaro
- Autifony Therapeutics Limited, Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Stevenage, UK
| | - Charles H Large
- Autifony Therapeutics Limited, Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Stevenage, UK
| | - Josef Syka
- Department of Auditory Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 14220 Prague 4, Czech Republic
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21
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Casanova MF, Sokhadze EM, Casanova EL, Opris I, Abujadi C, Marcolin MA, Li X. Translational Neuroscience in Autism: From Neuropathology to Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapies. Psychiatr Clin North Am 2020; 43:229-248. [PMID: 32439019 PMCID: PMC7245584 DOI: 10.1016/j.psc.2020.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The presence of heterotopias, increased regional density of neurons at the gray-white matter junction, and focal cortical dysplasias all suggest an abnormality of neuronal migration in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The abnormality is borne from a dissonance in timing between radial and tangentially migrating neuroblasts to the developing cortical plate. The uncoupling of excitatory and inhibitory cortical cells disturbs the coordinated interactions of neurons within local networks, thus providing abnormal patterns of brainwave activity in the gamma bandwidth. In ASD, gamma oscillation abnormalities and autonomic markers offer measures of therapeutic progress and help in the identification of subgroups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel F Casanova
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics, Greenville Health System, 200 Patewood Drive, Suite A200, Greenville, SC 29615, USA.
| | - Estate M Sokhadze
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, 200 Patewood Drive, Greenville, SC 29615, USA
| | - Emily L Casanova
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, 200 Patewood Drive, Greenville, SC 29615, USA. https://twitter.com/EmLyWill
| | - Ioan Opris
- University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Department Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Caio Abujadi
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marco Antonio Marcolin
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Xiaoli Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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22
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Choudhury N, Linley D, Richardson A, Anderson M, Robinson SW, Marra V, Ciampani V, Walter SM, Kopp‐Scheinpflug C, Steinert JR, Forsythe ID. Kv3.1 and Kv3.3 subunits differentially contribute to Kv3 channels and action potential repolarization in principal neurons of the auditory brainstem. J Physiol 2020; 598:2199-2222. [DOI: 10.1113/jp279668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nasreen Choudhury
- Auditory Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience Psychology & Behaviour College of Life Sciences University of Leicester Leicester LE1 7RH UK
| | - Deborah Linley
- Auditory Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience Psychology & Behaviour College of Life Sciences University of Leicester Leicester LE1 7RH UK
| | - Amy Richardson
- Auditory Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience Psychology & Behaviour College of Life Sciences University of Leicester Leicester LE1 7RH UK
| | - Michelle Anderson
- Auditory Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience Psychology & Behaviour College of Life Sciences University of Leicester Leicester LE1 7RH UK
| | - Susan W. Robinson
- Neurotoxicity at the Synaptic Interface MRC Toxicology Unit University of Leicester, UK
| | - Vincenzo Marra
- Department of Neuroscience Psychology & Behaviour College of Life Sciences University of Leicester Leicester LE1 7RH UK
| | - Victoria Ciampani
- Auditory Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience Psychology & Behaviour College of Life Sciences University of Leicester Leicester LE1 7RH UK
| | - Sophie M. Walter
- Auditory Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience Psychology & Behaviour College of Life Sciences University of Leicester Leicester LE1 7RH UK
| | - Conny Kopp‐Scheinpflug
- Division of Neurobiology Department Biology II Ludwig‐Maximilians‐University Munich Großhaderner Strasse 2 Planegg‐Martinsried D‐82152 Germany
| | - Joern R. Steinert
- Auditory Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience Psychology & Behaviour College of Life Sciences University of Leicester Leicester LE1 7RH UK
| | - Ian D. Forsythe
- Auditory Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience Psychology & Behaviour College of Life Sciences University of Leicester Leicester LE1 7RH UK
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23
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Taylor SF, Grove TB, Ellingrod VL, Tso IF. The Fragile Brain: Stress Vulnerability, Negative Affect and GABAergic Neurocircuits in Psychosis. Schizophr Bull 2019; 45:1170-1183. [PMID: 31150555 PMCID: PMC6811817 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbz046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Persons with schizophrenia exhibit sensitivity to stress and negative affect (NA), both strongly correlated with poor functional outcome. This theoretical review suggests that NA reflects a "fragile brain," ie, vulnerable to stress, including events not experienced as stressful by healthy individuals. Based on postmortem evidence of altered gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) function in parvalbumin positive interneurons (PVI), animal models of PVI abnormalities and neuroimaging data with GABAergic challenge, it is suggested that GABAergic disruptions weaken cortical regions, which leads to stress vulnerability and excessive NA. Neurocircuits that respond to stressful and salient environmental stimuli, such as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the amygdala, are highly dysregulated in schizophrenia, exhibiting hypo- and hyper-activity. PVI abnormalities in lateral prefrontal cortex and hippocampus have been hypothesized to affect cognitive function and positive symptoms, respectively; in the medial frontal cortex (dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and dorsal medial prefrontal cortex), these abnormalities may lead to vulnerability to stress, NA and dysregulation of stress responsive systems. Given that postmortem PVI disruptions have been identified in other conditions, such as bipolar disorder and autism, stress vulnerability may reflect a transdiagnostic dimension of psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan F Taylor
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Rachel Upjohn Building, Ann Arbor, MI,To whom correspondence should be addressed; tel: 734-936-4955, fax: 734-936-7868, e-mail:
| | - Tyler B Grove
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Rachel Upjohn Building, Ann Arbor, MI
| | | | - Ivy F Tso
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Rachel Upjohn Building, Ann Arbor, MI
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Pre-frontal parvalbumin interneurons in schizophrenia: a meta-analysis of post-mortem studies. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2019; 126:1637-1651. [PMID: 31529297 PMCID: PMC6856257 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-019-02080-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Parvalbumin interneurons are fast-spiking GABAergic neurons that provide inhibitory control of cortical and subcortical circuits and are thought to be a key locus of the pathophysiology underlying schizophrenia. In view of the contradictory results regarding the nature of parvalbumin post-mortem findings in schizophrenia, we conducted a quantitative meta-analysis of the data on parvalbumin cell density and parvalbumin mRNA levels in pre-frontal regions in the brains of patients with schizophrenia (n = 274) compared with healthy controls (n = 275). The results suggest that parvalbumin interneurons are reduced in density in the frontal cortex of patients with schizophrenia (Hedges’ g = − 0.27; p = 0.03) and there is a non-significant reduction in parvalbumin mRNA levels (g = − 0.44; p = 0.12). However, certain methodological issues need to be considered in interpreting such results and are discussed in more detail. A meta-regression was conducted for post-mortem interval and year of publication as covariates which were both non-significant, except in the mRNA meta-analysis where post-mortem interval was found to be significant. Overall our findings provide tentative support for the hypothesis that the GABAergic system is deficient in schizophrenia and that parvalbumin-containing interneurons offer a potential target for treatment. However, further well-controlled studies that examine multiple regions and layers are warranted to determine whether parvalbumin alterations are region or layer specific and to test the robustness of the findings further.
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Kaar SJ, Natesan S, McCutcheon R, Howes OD. Antipsychotics: Mechanisms underlying clinical response and side-effects and novel treatment approaches based on pathophysiology. Neuropharmacology 2019; 172:107704. [PMID: 31299229 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.107704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Revised: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Antipsychotic drugs are central to the treatment of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders but are ineffective for some patients and associated with side-effects and nonadherence in others. We review the in vitro, pre-clinical, clinical and molecular imaging evidence on the mode of action of antipsychotics and their side-effects. This identifies the key role of striatal dopamine D2 receptor blockade for clinical response, but also for endocrine and motor side-effects, indicating a therapeutic window for D2 blockade. We consider how partial D2/3 receptor agonists fit within this framework, and the role of off-target effects of antipsychotics, particularly at serotonergic, histaminergic, cholinergic, and adrenergic receptors for efficacy and side-effects such as weight gain, sedation and dysphoria. We review the neurobiology of schizophrenia relevant to the mode of action of antipsychotics, and for the identification of new treatment targets. This shows elevated striatal dopamine synthesis and release capacity in dorsal regions of the striatum underlies the positive symptoms of psychosis and suggests reduced dopamine release in cortical regions contributes to cognitive and negative symptoms. Current drugs act downstream of the major dopamine abnormalities in schizophrenia, and potentially worsen cortical dopamine function. We consider new approaches including targeting dopamine synthesis and storage, autoreceptors, and trace amine receptors, and the cannabinoid, muscarinic, GABAergic and glutamatergic regulation of dopamine neurons, as well as post-synaptic modulation through phosphodiesterase inhibitors. Finally, we consider treatments for cognitive and negative symptoms such dopamine agonists, nicotinic agents and AMPA modulators before discussing immunological approaches which may be disease modifying. This article is part of the issue entitled 'Special Issue on Antipsychotics'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J Kaar
- Department of Psychosis Studies, 5th Floor, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, PO63 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, United Kingdom.
| | - Sridhar Natesan
- Department of Psychosis Studies, 5th Floor, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, PO63 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
| | - Robert McCutcheon
- Department of Psychosis Studies, 5th Floor, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, PO63 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
| | - Oliver D Howes
- Department of Psychosis Studies, 5th Floor, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, PO63 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, United Kingdom.
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Modulators of Kv3 Potassium Channels Rescue the Auditory Function of Fragile X Mice. J Neurosci 2019; 39:4797-4813. [PMID: 30936239 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0839-18.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2018] [Revised: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is characterized by hypersensitivity to sensory stimuli, including environmental sounds. We compared the auditory brainstem response (ABR) recorded in vivo in mice lacking the gene (Fmr1 -/y ) for fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) with that in wild-type animals. We found that ABR wave I, which represents input from the auditory nerve, is reduced in Fmr1 -/y animals, but only at high sound levels. In contrast, wave IV, which represents the activity of auditory brainstem nuclei is enhanced at all sound levels, suggesting that loss of FMRP alters the central processing of auditory signals. Current-clamp recordings of neurons in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body in the auditory brainstem revealed that, in contrast to neurons from wild-type animals, sustained depolarization triggers repetitive firing rather than a single action potential. In voltage-clamp recordings, K+ currents that activate at positive potentials ("high-threshold" K+ currents), which are required for high-frequency firing and are carried primarily by Kv3.1 channels, are elevated in Fmr1 -/y mice, while K+ currents that activate near the resting potential and inhibit repetitive firing are reduced. We therefore tested the effects of AUT2 [((4-({5-[(4R)-4-ethyl-2,5-dioxo-1-imidazolidinyl]-2-pyridinyl}oxy)-2-(1-methylethyl) benzonitrile], a compound that modulates Kv3.1 channels. AUT2 reduced the high-threshold K+ current and increased the low-threshold K+ currents in neurons from Fmr1 -/y animals by shifting the activation of the high-threshold current to more negative potentials. This reduced the firing rate and, in vivo, restored wave IV of the ABR. Our results from animals of both sexes suggest that the modulation of the Kv3.1 channel may have potential for the treatment of sensory hypersensitivity in patients with FXS.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT mRNA encoding the Kv3.1 potassium channel was one of the first described targets of the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP). Fragile X syndrome is caused by loss of FMRP and, in humans and mice, causes hypersensitivity to auditory stimuli. We found that components of the auditory brain response (ABR) corresponding to auditory brainstem activity are enhanced in mice lacking FMRP. This is accompanied by hyperexcitability and altered potassium currents in auditory brainstem neurons. Treatment with a drug that alters the voltage dependence of Kv3.1 channels normalizes the imbalance of potassium currents, as well as ABR responses in vivo, suggesting that such compounds may be effective in treating some symptoms of fragile X syndrome.
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Munch AS, Saljic A, Boddum K, Grunnet M, Hougaard C, Jespersen T. Pharmacological rescue of mutated Kv3.1 ion-channel linked to progressive myoclonus epilepsies. Eur J Pharmacol 2018; 833:255-262. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2018.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2018] [Revised: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Glait L, Fan W, Stillitano G, Sandridge S, Pilati N, Large C, Alvaro G, Kaltenbach JA. Effects of AUT00063, a Kv3.1 channel modulator, on noise-induced hyperactivity in the dorsal cochlear nucleus. Hear Res 2018; 361:36-44. [DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2018.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2017] [Revised: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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29
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Olsen T, Capurro A, Pilati N, Large CH, Hamann M. Kv3 K + currents contribute to spike-timing in dorsal cochlear nucleus principal cells. Neuropharmacology 2018; 133:319-333. [PMID: 29421326 PMCID: PMC5869058 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2017] [Revised: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 02/04/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to loud sound increases burst-firing of dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN) fusiform cells in the auditory brainstem, which has been suggested to be an electrophysiological correlate of tinnitus. The altered activity of DCN fusiform cells may be due to down-regulation of high voltage-activated (Kv3-like) K+ currents. Whole cell current-clamp recordings were obtained from DCN fusiform cells in brain slices from P15-P18 CBA mice. We first studied whether acoustic over-exposure (performed at P15) or pharmacological inhibition of K+ currents with tetraethylamonium (TEA) affect fusiform cell action potential characteristics, firing frequency and spike-timing relative to evoking current stimuli. We then tested whether AUT1, a modulator of Kv3 K+ currents reverses the effects of sound exposure or TEA. Both loud sound exposure and TEA decreased the amplitude of action potential after-hyperpolarization, reduced the maximum firing frequency, and disrupted spike-timing. These treatments also increased post-synaptic voltage fluctuations at baseline. AUT1 applied in the presence of TEA or following acoustic over-exposure, did not affect the firing frequency, but enhanced action potential after-hyperpolarization, prevented the increased voltage fluctuations and restored spike-timing. Furthermore AUT1 prevented the occurrence of bursts. Our study shows that the effect on spike-timing is significantly correlated with the amplitude of the action potential after-hyperpolarization and the voltage fluctuations at baseline. In conclusion, modulation of putative Kv3 K+ currents may restore regular spike-timing of DCN fusiform cell firing following noise exposure, and could provide a means to restore deficits in temporal encoding observed during noise-induced tinnitus. Whole cell recordings were performed in dorsal cochlear nucleus fusiform cells. Spike-timing is dependent on the action potential after-hyperpolarization. Spike-timing is dependent on synaptic baseline voltage fluctuations. Inhibition of K+ currents using TEA or acoustic over-exposure disrupt spike-timing. AUT1, a Kv3.1/3.2 K+ current modulator, counteracts the disruptive effects on spike-timing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Olsen
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Alberto Capurro
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Nadia Pilati
- Autifony Srl, Via Ugo Bassi 58b, Universita' di Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Charles H Large
- Autifony Therapeutics Ltd, Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, SG1 2FX, UK
| | - Martine Hamann
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK.
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30
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Antimanic Efficacy of a Novel Kv3 Potassium Channel Modulator. Neuropsychopharmacology 2018; 43:435-444. [PMID: 28857068 PMCID: PMC5729564 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2017.155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2017] [Revised: 07/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Kv3.1 and Kv3.2 voltage-gated potassium channels are expressed on parvalbumin-positive GABAergic interneurons in corticolimbic brain regions and contribute to high-frequency neural firing. The channels are also expressed on GABAergic neurons of the basal ganglia, substantia nigra, and ventral tegmental area (VTA) where they regulate firing patterns critical for movement control, reward, and motivation. Modulation of Kv3.1 and Kv3.2 channels may therefore have potential in the treatment of disorders in which these systems have been implicated, such as bipolar disorder. Following the recent development of a potassium channel modulator, AUT1-an imidazolidinedione compound that specifically increases currents mediated by Kv3.1 and Kv3.2 channels in recombinant systems-we report that the compound is able to reverse 'manic-like' behavior in two mouse models: amphetamine-induced hyperactivity and ClockΔ19 mutants. AUT1 completely prevented amphetamine-induced hyperactivity in a dose-dependent manner, similar to the atypical antipsychotic, clozapine. Similar efficacy was observed in Kv3.2 knockout mice. In contrast, AUT1 was unable to prevent amphetamine-induced hyperactivity in mice lacking Kv3.1 channels. Notably, Kv3.1-null mice displayed baseline hyperlocomotion, reduced anxiety-like behavior, and antidepressant-like behavior. In ClockΔ19 mice, AUT1 reversed hyperactivity. Furthermore, AUT1 application modulated firing frequency and action potential properties of ClockΔ19 VTA dopamine neurons potentially through network effects. Kv3.1 protein levels in the VTA of ClockΔ19 and WT mice were unaltered by acute AUT1 treatment. Taken together, these results suggest that the modulation of Kv3.1 channels may provide a novel approach to the treatment of bipolar mania.
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31
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Chambers AR, Pilati N, Balaram P, Large CH, Kaczmarek LK, Polley DB. Pharmacological modulation of Kv3.1 mitigates auditory midbrain temporal processing deficits following auditory nerve damage. Sci Rep 2017; 7:17496. [PMID: 29235497 PMCID: PMC5727503 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-17406-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Higher stages of central auditory processing compensate for a loss of cochlear nerve synapses by increasing the gain on remaining afferent inputs, thereby restoring firing rate codes for rudimentary sound features. The benefits of this compensatory plasticity are limited, as the recovery of precise temporal coding is comparatively modest. We reasoned that persistent temporal coding deficits could be ameliorated through modulation of voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels that regulate temporal firing patterns. Here, we characterize AUT00063, a pharmacological compound that modulates Kv3.1, a high-threshold channel expressed in fast-spiking neurons throughout the central auditory pathway. Patch clamp recordings from auditory brainstem neurons and in silico modeling revealed that application of AUT00063 reduced action potential timing variability and improved temporal coding precision. Systemic injections of AUT00063 in vivo improved auditory synchronization and supported more accurate decoding of temporal sound features in the inferior colliculus and auditory cortex in adult mice with a near-complete loss of auditory nerve afferent synapses in the contralateral ear. These findings suggest modulating Kv3.1 in central neurons could be a promising therapeutic approach to mitigate temporal processing deficits that commonly accompany aging, tinnitus, ototoxic drug exposure or noise damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna R Chambers
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratories, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, USA.,Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Nadia Pilati
- Autifony SRL, Verona, Italy; and Autifony Therapeutics Limited, Imperial College Incubator, London, UK
| | - Pooja Balaram
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratories, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Charles H Large
- Autifony SRL, Verona, Italy; and Autifony Therapeutics Limited, Imperial College Incubator, London, UK
| | - Leonard K Kaczmarek
- Departments of Pharmacology and Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Daniel B Polley
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratories, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, USA. .,Department of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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32
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Kaczmarek LK, Zhang Y. Kv3 Channels: Enablers of Rapid Firing, Neurotransmitter Release, and Neuronal Endurance. Physiol Rev 2017; 97:1431-1468. [PMID: 28904001 PMCID: PMC6151494 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00002.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2017] [Revised: 04/24/2017] [Accepted: 05/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The intrinsic electrical characteristics of different types of neurons are shaped by the K+ channels they express. From among the more than 70 different K+ channel genes expressed in neurons, Kv3 family voltage-dependent K+ channels are uniquely associated with the ability of certain neurons to fire action potentials and to release neurotransmitter at high rates of up to 1,000 Hz. In general, the four Kv3 channels Kv3.1-Kv3.4 share the property of activating and deactivating rapidly at potentials more positive than other channels. Each Kv3 channel gene can generate multiple protein isoforms, which contribute to the high-frequency firing of neurons such as auditory brain stem neurons, fast-spiking GABAergic interneurons, and Purkinje cells of the cerebellum, and to regulation of neurotransmitter release at the terminals of many neurons. The different Kv3 channels have unique expression patterns and biophysical properties and are regulated in different ways by protein kinases. In this review, we cover the function, localization, and modulation of Kv3 channels and describe how levels and properties of the channels are altered by changes in ongoing neuronal activity. We also cover how the protein-protein interaction of these channels with other proteins affects neuronal functions, and how mutations or abnormal regulation of Kv3 channels are associated with neurological disorders such as ataxias, epilepsies, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonard K Kaczmarek
- Departments of Pharmacology and of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Yalan Zhang
- Departments of Pharmacology and of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
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33
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Thelin J, Halje P, Nielsen J, Didriksen M, Petersson P, Bastlund JF. The translationally relevant mouse model of the 15q13.3 microdeletion syndrome reveals deficits in neuronal spike firing matching clinical neurophysiological biomarkers seen in schizophrenia. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2017; 220:124-136. [PMID: 27364459 PMCID: PMC5412918 DOI: 10.1111/apha.12746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2016] [Revised: 04/18/2016] [Accepted: 06/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Aim To date, the understanding and development of novel treatments for mental illness is hampered by inadequate animal models. For instance, it is unclear to what extent commonly used behavioural tests in animals can inform us on the mental and affective aspects of schizophrenia. Methods To link pathophysiological processes in an animal model to clinical findings, we have here utilized the recently developed Df(h15q13)/+ mouse model for detailed investigations of cortical neuronal engagement during pre‐attentive processing of auditory information from two back‐translational auditory paradigms. We also investigate if compromised putative fast‐spiking interneurone (FSI) function can be restored through pharmacological intervention using the Kv3.1 channel opener RE1. Chronic multi‐array electrodes in primary auditory cortex were used to record single cell firing from putative pyramidal and FSI in awake animals during processing of auditory sensory information. Results We find a decreased amplitude in the response to auditory stimuli and reduced recruitment of neurones to fast steady‐state gamma oscillatory activity. These results resemble encephalography recordings in patients with schizophrenia. Furthermore, the probability of interneurones to fire with low interspike intervals during 80 Hz auditory stimulation was reduced in Df(h15q13)/+ mice, an effect that was partially reversed by the Kv3.1 channel modulator, RE1. Conclusion This study offers insight into the consequences on a neuronal level of carrying the 15q13.3 microdeletion. Furthermore, it points to deficient functioning of interneurones as a potential pathophysiological mechanism in schizophrenia and suggests a therapeutic potential of Kv3.1 channel openers.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Thelin
- Neuroscience Research DK; H. Lundbeck A/S; Valby Denmark
- Neuronano Research Center; Lund University; Lund Sweden
| | - P. Halje
- Neuronano Research Center; Lund University; Lund Sweden
- Integrative Neurophysiology and Neurotechnology; Lund University; Lund Sweden
| | - J. Nielsen
- Neuroscience Research DK; H. Lundbeck A/S; Valby Denmark
| | - M. Didriksen
- Neuroscience Research DK; H. Lundbeck A/S; Valby Denmark
| | - P. Petersson
- Neuronano Research Center; Lund University; Lund Sweden
- Integrative Neurophysiology and Neurotechnology; Lund University; Lund Sweden
| | - J. F. Bastlund
- Neuroscience Research DK; H. Lundbeck A/S; Valby Denmark
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Boddum K, Hougaard C, Xiao-Ying Lin J, von Schoubye NL, Jensen HS, Grunnet M, Jespersen T. K v3.1/K v3.2 channel positive modulators enable faster activating kinetics and increase firing frequency in fast-spiking GABAergic interneurons. Neuropharmacology 2017; 118:102-112. [PMID: 28242439 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.02.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Revised: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 02/22/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Due to their fast kinetic properties, Kv3.1 voltage gated potassium channels are important in setting and controlling firing frequency in neurons and pivotal in generating high frequency firing of interneurons. Pharmacological activation of Kv3.1 channels may possess therapeutic potential for treatment of epilepsy, hearing disorders, schizophrenia and cognitive impairments. Here we thoroughly investigate the selectivity and positive modulation of the two small molecules, EX15 and RE01, on Kv3 channels. Selectivity studies, conducted in Xenopus laevis oocytes confirmed a positive modulatory effect of the two compounds on Kv3.1 and to a minor extent on Kv3.2 channels. RE01 had no effect on the Kv3.3 and Kv3.4 channels, whereas EX15 had an inhibitory impact on the Kv3.4 mediated current. Voltage-clamp experiments in monoclonal hKv3.1b/HEK293 cells (34 °C) revealed that the two compounds indeed induced larger currents and faster activation kinetics. They also decrease the speed of deactivation and shifted the voltage dependence of activation, to a more negative activation threshold. Application of action potential clamping and repetitive stimulation protocols of hKv3.1b expressing HEK293 cells revealed that EX15 and RE01 significantly increased peak amplitude, half width and decay time of Kv3.1 mediated currents, even during high-frequency action potential clamping (250 Hz). In rat hippocampal slices, EX15 and RE01 increased neuronal excitability in fast-spiking interneurons in dentate gyrus. Action potential frequency was prominently increased at minor depolarizing steps, whereas more marginal effects of EX15 and RE01 were observed after stronger depolarizations. In conclusion, our results suggest that EX15 and RE01 positive modulation of Kv3.1 and Kv3.2 currents facilitate increased firing frequency in fast-spiking GABAergic interneurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Boddum
- Cardiac Physiology Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Blegdamsvej 3B, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Charlotte Hougaard
- Synaptic Transmission In vitro, H. Lundbeck A/S, Ottiliavej 9, DK-2500 Valby, Denmark
| | - Julie Xiao-Ying Lin
- Cardiac Physiology Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Blegdamsvej 3B, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nadia Lybøl von Schoubye
- Cardiac Physiology Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Blegdamsvej 3B, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Henrik Sindal Jensen
- Synaptic Transmission In vitro, H. Lundbeck A/S, Ottiliavej 9, DK-2500 Valby, Denmark
| | - Morten Grunnet
- Synaptic Transmission In vitro, H. Lundbeck A/S, Ottiliavej 9, DK-2500 Valby, Denmark
| | - Thomas Jespersen
- Cardiac Physiology Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Blegdamsvej 3B, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
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35
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Jiang X, Lachance M, Rossignol E. Involvement of cortical fast-spiking parvalbumin-positive basket cells in epilepsy. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2016; 226:81-126. [PMID: 27323940 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2016.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
GABAergic interneurons of the parvalbumin-positive fast-spiking basket cells subtype (PV INs) are important regulators of cortical network excitability and of gamma oscillations, involved in signal processing and cognition. Impaired development or function of PV INs has been associated with epilepsy in various animal models of epilepsy, as well as in some genetic forms of epilepsy in humans. In this review, we provide an overview of some of the experimental data linking PV INs dysfunction with epilepsy, focusing on disorders of the specification, migration, maturation, synaptic function, or connectivity of PV INs. Furthermore, we reflect on the potential therapeutic use of cell-type specific stimulation of PV INs within active networks and on the transplantation of PV INs precursors in the treatment of epilepsy and its comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Jiang
- Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada; CHU Ste-Justine Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - M Lachance
- CHU Ste-Justine Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - E Rossignol
- Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada; CHU Ste-Justine Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada.
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36
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Brown MR, El-Hassar L, Zhang Y, Alvaro G, Large CH, Kaczmarek LK. Physiological modulators of Kv3.1 channels adjust firing patterns of auditory brain stem neurons. J Neurophysiol 2016; 116:106-21. [PMID: 27052580 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00174.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2016] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Many rapidly firing neurons, including those in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) in the auditory brain stem, express "high threshold" voltage-gated Kv3.1 potassium channels that activate only at positive potentials and are required for stimuli to generate rapid trains of actions potentials. We now describe the actions of two imidazolidinedione derivatives, AUT1 and AUT2, which modulate Kv3.1 channels. Using Chinese hamster ovary cells stably expressing rat Kv3.1 channels, we found that lower concentrations of these compounds shift the voltage of activation of Kv3.1 currents toward negative potentials, increasing currents evoked by depolarization from typical neuronal resting potentials. Single-channel recordings also showed that AUT1 shifted the open probability of Kv3.1 to more negative potentials. Higher concentrations of AUT2 also shifted inactivation to negative potentials. The effects of lower and higher concentrations could be mimicked in numerical simulations by increasing rates of activation and inactivation respectively, with no change in intrinsic voltage dependence. In brain slice recordings of mouse MNTB neurons, both AUT1 and AUT2 modulated firing rate at high rates of stimulation, a result predicted by numerical simulations. Our results suggest that pharmaceutical modulation of Kv3.1 currents represents a novel avenue for manipulation of neuronal excitability and has the potential for therapeutic benefit in the treatment of hearing disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maile R Brown
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Lynda El-Hassar
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Yalan Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Giuseppe Alvaro
- Autifony SRL, Verona, Italy; and Autifony Therapeutics Limited, Imperial College Incubator, London, United Kingdom
| | - Charles H Large
- Autifony SRL, Verona, Italy; and Autifony Therapeutics Limited, Imperial College Incubator, London, United Kingdom
| | - Leonard K Kaczmarek
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut;
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