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Schneider MF, Vogt M, Scheuermann J, Müller V, Fischer-Hentrich AHL, Kremer T, Lugert S, Metzger F, Kudernatsch M, Kluger G, Hartlieb T, Noachtar S, Vollmar C, Kunz M, Tonn JC, Coras R, Blümcke I, Pace C, Heinen F, Klein C, Potschka H, Borggraefe I. Brain expression profiles of two SCN1A antisense RNAs in children and adolescents with epilepsy. Transl Neurosci 2024; 15:20220330. [PMID: 38283997 PMCID: PMC10811528 DOI: 10.1515/tnsci-2022-0330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Heterozygous mutations within the voltage-gated sodium channel α subunit (SCN1A) are responsible for the majority of cases of Dravet syndrome (DS), a severe developmental and epileptic encephalopathy. Development of novel therapeutic approaches is mandatory in order to directly target the molecular consequences of the genetic defect. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether cis-acting long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) of SCN1A are expressed in brain specimens of children and adolescent with epilepsy as these molecules comprise possible targets for precision-based therapy approaches. Methods We investigated SCN1A mRNA expression and expression of two SCN1A related antisense RNAs in brain tissues in different age groups of pediatric non-Dravet patients who underwent surgery for drug resistant epilepsy. The effect of different antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) directed against SCN1A specific antisense RNAs on SCN1A expression was tested. Results The SCN1A related antisense RNAs SCN1A-dsAS (downstream antisense, RefSeq identifier: NR_110598) and SCN1A-usAS (upstream AS, SCN1A-AS, RefSeq identifier: NR_110260) were widely expressed in the brain of pediatric patients. Expression patterns revealed a negative correlation of SCN1A-dsAS and a positive correlation of lncRNA SCN1A-usAS with SCN1A mRNA expression. Transfection of SK-N-AS cells with an ASO targeted against SCN1A-dsAS was associated with a significant enhancement of SCN1A mRNA expression and reduction in SCN1A-dsAS transcripts. Conclusion These findings support the role of SCN1A-dsAS in the suppression of SCN1A mRNA generation. Considering the haploinsufficiency in genetic SCN1A related DS, SCN1A-dsAS is an interesting target candidate for the development of ASOs (AntagoNATs) based precision medicine therapeutic approaches aiming to enhance SCN1A expression in DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marius Frederik Schneider
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biomedical Center Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) for Molecular Life Sciences, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | | | - Johanna Scheuermann
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biomedical Center Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Veronika Müller
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biomedical Center Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Thomas Kremer
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian Lugert
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Manfred Kudernatsch
- Clinic for Neurosurgery, Schoen-Klinik Vogtareuth, Germany
- Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Gerhard Kluger
- Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
- Neuropediatric Clinic and Clinic for Neurorehabilitation, Epilepsy Center for Children and Adolescents, Schoen-Klinik Vogtareuth, Germany
| | - Till Hartlieb
- Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
- Neuropediatric Clinic and Clinic for Neurorehabilitation, Epilepsy Center for Children and Adolescents, Schoen-Klinik Vogtareuth, Germany
| | - Soheyl Noachtar
- Department of Neurology, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, University Hospital of Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Christian Vollmar
- Department of Neurology, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, University Hospital of Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
- Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Developmental Medicine and Social Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Mathias Kunz
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Jörg Christian Tonn
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Roland Coras
- Department of Neuropathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ingmar Blümcke
- Department of Neuropathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Claudia Pace
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Florian Heinen
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Developmental Medicine and Social Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Christoph Klein
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Heidrun Potschka
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Ingo Borggraefe
- Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Developmental Medicine and Social Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
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