Alternative transcription of sodium/bicarbonate transporter SLC4A7 gene enhanced by single nucleotide polymorphisms.

Genome-wide association studies have identified the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs3278 in the human SLC4A7 gene as one of the marker loci for addiction vulnerability. This marker is located in an intron of the gene, and its genomic role has been unknown. In this study, we examined rs3278 and three adjacent SNPs prevalent in alcoholics for their effects on an alternative promoter that would lead to the production of the NH2-terminally truncated protein NBCn1ΔN450, missing the first 450 amino acids. Analysis of the transcription start site database and a promoter prediction algorithm identified a cluster of three promoters in intron 7 and two short CpG-rich sites in intron 6. The promoter closest to rs3278 showed strong transcription activity in luciferase reporter gene assays. Major-to-minor allele substitution at rs3278 resulted in increased transcription activity. Equivalent substitutions at adjacent rs3772723 (intron 7) and rs13077400 (exon 8) had negligible effect; however, the substitution at nonsynonymous rs3755652 (exon 8) increased the activity by more than twofold. The concomitant substitution at rs3278/rs3755652 produced an additive effect. The rs3755652 had more profound effects on the promoter than the upstream regulatory CpG sites. The amino acid change E326K caused by rs3755652 had negligible effect on transporter function. In HEK 293 cells, NBCn1ΔN450 was expressed in plasma membranes, but at significantly lower levels than the nontruncated NBCn1-E. The pH change mediated by NBCn1ΔN450 was also low. We conclude that rs3278 and rs3755652 stimulate an alternative transcription of the SLC4A7 gene, increasing the production of a defective transporter.

Effect of levetiracetam monotherapy on background EEG activity and cognition in drug-naïve epilepsy patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the cognitive effect of levetiracetam (LEV) monotherapy with quantitative electroencephalogram (EEG) analysis and neuropsychological (NP) tests. METHODS: Twenty-two drug-naïve epilepsy patients were enrolled. EEG recordings were performed before and after LEV therapy. Relative power of discrete frequency bands was computed, as well as alpha peak frequency (APF) at occipital electrodes. Eighteen patients performed a battery of NP tests twice across LEV treatment. RESULTS: LEV therapy decreased the power of delta (1-3 Hz, p<0.01) and theta (3-7 Hz, p<0.05) bands and increased that of alpha-2 (10-13 Hz, p<0.05) and beta-2 (19-24 Hz, p<0.05) bands. Region-specific spectral change was observed: delta power change was significant in fronto-polar region, theta in anterior region, alpha-2 in broad region, and beta-2 in left fronto-central region. APF change was not significant. Improvement in diverse NP tests requiring attention, working memory, language and executive function was observed. Change in theta, alpha-2, and beta-2 power was correlated with improvement in several NP tests. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest LEV is associated with acceleration of background EEG frequencies and improved cognitive function. Change in frequency band power could predict improvement in several cognitive domains across LEV therapy. SIGNIFICANCE: Combined study of quantitative EEG analysis and NP tests can be useful in identifying cognitive effect of antiepileptic drugs.