Chemogenetic Seizure Control with Clozapine and the Novel Ligand JHU37160 Outperforms the Effects of Levetiracetam in the Intrahippocampal Kainic Acid Mouse Model

Expression of inhibitory designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) on excitatory hippocampal neurons in the hippocampus represents a potential new therapeutic strategy for drug-resistant epilepsy. To overcome the limitations of the commonly used DREADD agonist clozapine, we investigated the efficacy of the novel DREADD ligand JHU37160 in chemogenetic seizure suppression in the intrahippocampal kainic acid (IHKA) mouse model for temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). In addition, seizure-suppressing effects of chemogenetics were compared to the commonly used anti-epileptic drug (AED), levetiracetam (LEV). Therefore, an adeno-associated viral vector was injected in the sclerotic hippocampus of IHKA mice to induce expression of a tagged inhibitory DREADD hM4Di or only a tag (control) specifically in excitatory neurons using the CamKIIα promoter. Subsequently, animals were treated with LEV (800 mg/kg), clozapine (0.1 mg/kg), and DREADD ligand JHU37160 (0.1 mg/kg) and the effect on spontaneous seizures was investigated. Clozapine and JHU37160-mediated chemogenetic treatment both suppressed seizures in DREADD-expressing IHKA mice. Clozapine treatment suppressed seizures up to 34 h after treatment, and JHU37160 effects lasted for 26 h after injection. Moreover, both compounds reduced the length of seizures that did occur after treatment up to 28 h and 18 h after clozapine and JHU37160, respectively. No seizure-suppressing effects were found in control animals using these ligands. Chemogenetic seizure treatment suppressed seizures during the first 30 min after injection, and seizures remained suppressed during 8 h following treatment. Chemogenetics thus outperformed effects of levetiracetam (p < 0.001), which suppressed seizure frequency with a maximum of 55 ± 9% for up to 1.5 h (p < 0.05). Only chemogenetic and not levetiracetam treatment affected the length of seizures after treatment (p < 0.001). These results show that the chemogenetic therapeutic strategy with either clozapine or JHU37160 effectively suppresses spontaneous seizures in the IHKA mouse model, confirming JHU37160 as an effective DREADD ligand. Moreover, chemogenetic therapy outperforms the effects of levetiracetam, indicating its potential to suppress drug-resistant seizures.

Overexpression of wild-type human amyloid precursor protein alters GABAergic transmission

The function of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) is not fully understood, but its cleavage product amyloid beta (Aβ) together with neurofibrillary tangles constitute the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Yet, imbalance of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission accompanied by loss of synaptic functions, has been reported much earlier and independent of any detectable pathological markers. Recently, soluble APP fragments have been shown to bind to presynaptic GABA_B receptors (GABA_BRs), subsequently decreasing the probability of neurotransmitter release. In this body of work, we were able to show that overexpression of wild-type human APP in mice (hAPP_wt) causes early cognitive impairment, neuronal loss, and electrophysiological abnormalities in the absence of amyloid plaques and at very low levels of Aβ. hAPP_wt mice exhibited neuronal overexcitation that was evident in EEG and increased long-term potentiation (LTP). Overexpression of hAPP_wt did not alter GABAergic/glutamatergic receptor components or GABA production ability. Nonetheless, we detected a decrease of GABA but not glutamate that could be linked to soluble APP fragments, acting on presynaptic GABA_BRs and subsequently reducing GABA release. By using a specific presynaptic GABA_BR antagonist, we were able to rescue hyperexcitation in hAPP_wt animals. Our results provide evidence that APP plays a crucial role in regulating inhibitory neurotransmission.

Long-term chemogenetic suppression of seizures in a multifocal rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy

OBJECTIVE

One third of epilepsy patients do not become seizure-free using conventional medication. Therefore, there is a need for alternative treatments. Preclinical research using designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) has demonstrated initial success in suppressing epileptic activity. Here, we evaluated whether long-term chemogenetic seizure suppression could be obtained in the intraperitoneal kainic acid rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy, when DREADDs were selectively expressed in excitatory hippocampal neurons.

METHODS

Epileptic male Sprague Dawley rats received unilateral hippocampal injections of adeno-associated viral vector encoding the inhibitory DREADD hM4D(Gi), preceded by a cell-specific promotor targeting excitatory neurons. The effect of clozapine-mediated DREADD activation on dentate gyrus evoked potentials and spontaneous electrographic seizures was evaluated. Animals were systemically treated with single (.1 mg/kg/24 h) or repeated (.1 mg/kg/6 h) injections of clozapine. In addition, long-term continuous release of clozapine and olanzapine (2.8 mg/kg/7 days) using implantable minipumps was evaluated. All treatments were administered during the chronic epileptic phase and between 1.5 and 13.5 months after viral transduction.

RESULTS

In the DREADD group, dentate gyrus evoked potentials were inhibited after clozapine treatment. Only in DREADD-expressing animals, clozapine reduced seizure frequency during the first 6 h postinjection. When administered repeatedly, seizures were suppressed during the entire day. Long-term treatment with clozapine and olanzapine both resulted in significant seizure-suppressing effects for multiple days. Histological analysis revealed DREADD expression in both hippocampi and some cortical regions. However, lesions were also detected at the site of vector injection.

SIGNIFICANCE

This study shows that inhibition of the hippocampus using chemogenetics results in potent seizure-suppressing effects in the intraperitoneal kainic acid rat model, even 1 year after viral transduction. Despite a need for further optimization, chemogenetic neuromodulation represents a promising treatment prospect for temporal lobe epilepsy.

Spontaneous Right Ventricular Pseudoaneurysms and Increased Arrhythmogenicity in a Mouse Model of Marfan Syndrome

Patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS), a connective tissue disorder caused by pathogenic variants in the gene encoding the extracellular matrix protein fibrillin-1, have an increased prevalence of primary cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death. We have performed an in-depth in vivo and ex vivo study of the cardiac phenotype of Fbn1mgR/mgR mice, an established mouse model of MFS with a severely reduced expression of fibrillin-1. Using ultrasound measurements, we confirmed the presence of aortic dilatation and observed cardiac diastolic dysfunction in male Fbn1mgR/mgR mice. Upon post-mortem examination, we discovered that the mutant mice consistently presented myocardial lesions at the level of the right ventricular free wall, which we characterized as spontaneous pseudoaneurysms. Histological investigation demonstrated a decrease in myocardial compaction in the MFS mouse model. Furthermore, continuous 24 h electrocardiographic analysis showed a decreased heart rate variability and an increased prevalence of extrasystolic arrhythmic events in Fbn1mgR/mgR mice compared to wild-type littermates. Taken together, in this paper we document a previously unreported cardiac phenotype in the Fbn1mgR/mgR MFS mouse model and provide a detailed characterization of the cardiac dysfunction and rhythm disorders which are caused by fibrillin-1 deficiency. These findings highlight the wide spectrum of cardiac manifestations of MFS, which might have implications for patient care.

Ambulatory Electrocardiographic Monitoring and Ectopic Beat Detection in Conscious Mice

Ambulatory electrocardiography (AECG) is a primary diagnostic tool in patients with potential arrhythmic disorders. To study the pathophysiological mechanisms of arrhythmic disorders, mouse models are widely implemented. The use of a technique similar to AECG for mice is thus of great relevance. We have optimized a protocol which allows qualitative, long-term ECG data recording in conscious, freely moving mice. Automated algorithms were developed to efficiently process the large amount of data and calculate the average heart rate (HR), the mean peak-to-peak interval and heart rate variability (HRV) based on peak detection. Ectopic beats are automatically detected based on aberrant peak intervals. As we have incorporated a multiple lead configuration in our ECG set-up, the nature and origin of the suggested ectopic beats can be analyzed in detail. The protocol and analysis tools presented here are promising tools for studies which require detailed, long-term ECG characterization in mouse models with potential arrhythmic disorders.

Long-term chemogenetic suppression of spontaneous seizures in a mouse model for temporal lobe epilepsy

OBJECTIVE

More than one-third of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) continue to have seizures despite treatment with antiepileptic drugs, and many experience severe drug-related side effects, illustrating the need for novel therapies. Selective expression of inhibitory Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs) allows cell-type-specific reduction of neuronal excitability. In this study, we evaluated the effect of chemogenetic suppression of excitatory pyramidal and granule cell neurons of the sclerotic hippocampus in the intrahippocampal mouse model (IHKA) for temporal lobe epilepsy.

METHODS

Intrahippocampal IHKA mice were injected with an adeno-associated viral vector carrying the genes for an inhibitory DREADD hM4Di in the sclerotic hippocampus or control vector. Next, animals were treated systemically with different single doses of clozapine-N-oxide (CNO) (1, 3, and 10 mg/kg) and clozapine (0.03 and 0.1 mg/kg) and the effect on spontaneous hippocampal seizures, hippocampal electroencephalography (EEG) power, fast ripples (FRs) and behavior in the open field test was evaluated. Finally, animals received prolonged treatment with clozapine for 3 days and the effect on seizures was monitored.

RESULTS

Treatment with both CNO and clozapine resulted in a robust suppression of hippocampal seizures for at least 15 hours only in DREADD-expressing animals. Moreover, total EEG power and the number of FRs were significantly reduced. CNO and/or clozapine had no effects on interictal hippocampal EEG, seizures, or locomotion/anxiety in the open field test in non-DREADD epileptic IHKA mice. Repeated clozapine treatment every 8 hours for 3 days resulted in almost complete seizure suppression in DREADD animals.

SIGNIFICANCE

This study shows the potency of chemogenetics to robustly and sustainably suppress spontaneous epileptic seizures and pave the way for an epilepsy therapy in which a systemically administered exogenous drug selectively modulates specific cell types in a seizure network, leading to a potent seizure suppression devoid of the typical drug-related side effects.