Selective suppression of excessive GluN2C expression rescues early epilepsy in a tuberous sclerosis murine model.
Nat Commun 2014;
5:4563. [PMID:
25081057 PMCID:
PMC4143949 DOI:
10.1038/ncomms5563]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2014] [Accepted: 06/30/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), caused by dominant mutations in either
TSC1 or
TSC2 tumour
suppressor genes is characterized by the presence of brain malformations, the
cortical tubers that are thought to contribute to the generation of
pharmacoresistant epilepsy. Here we report that tuberless heterozygote
Tsc1+/− mice show
functional upregulation of cortical GluN2C-containing N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) in an
mTOR-dependent manner and exhibit recurrent, unprovoked seizures during early
postnatal life (<P19). Seizures are generated intracortically in the granular
layer of the neocortex. Slow kinetics of aberrant GluN2C-mediated currents in spiny stellate cells promotes
excessive temporal integration of persistent NMDAR-mediated recurrent excitation and
seizure generation. Accordingly, specific GluN2C/D antagonists block seizures in Tsc1+/− mice in vivo
and in vitro. Likewise, GluN2C expression is upregulated in TSC human surgical
resections, and a GluN2C/D
antagonist reduces paroxysmal hyperexcitability. Thus, GluN2C receptor constitutes a promising
molecular target to treat epilepsy in TSC patients.
Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare genetic condition
characterized by epileptic seizures that start in infancy. Here, the authors show that
these seizures are modulated by GluN2C-containing NMDA receptors in the cortex of a
mouse model of TSC, and that suppressing their activity attenuates seizures.
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