kcna1a mutant zebrafish model episodic ataxia type 1 (EA1) with epilepsy and show response to first-line therapy carbamazepine.

OBJECTIVE: KCNA1 mutations are associated with a rare neurological movement disorder known as episodic ataxia type 1 (EA1), and epilepsy is a common comorbidity. Current medications provide only partial relief for ataxia and/or seizures, making new drugs needed. Here, we characterized zebrafish kcna1a-/- as a model of EA1 with epilepsy and compared the efficacy of the first-line therapy carbamazepine in kcna1a-/- zebrafish to Kcna1-/- rodents. METHODS: CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis was used to introduce a mutation in the sixth transmembrane segment of the zebrafish Kcna1 protein. Behavioral and electrophysiological assays were performed on kcna1a-/- larvae to assess ataxia- and epilepsy-related phenotypes. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was conducted to measure mRNA levels of brain hyperexcitability markers in kcna1a-/- larvae, followed by bioenergetics profiling to evaluate metabolic function. Drug efficacies were tested using behavioral and electrophysiological assessments, as well as seizure frequency in kcna1a-/- zebrafish and Kcna1-/- mice, respectively. RESULTS: Zebrafish kcna1a-/- larvae showed uncoordinated movements and locomotor deficits, along with scoliosis and increased mortality. The mutants also exhibited impaired startle responses when exposed to light-dark flashes and acoustic stimulation as well as hyperexcitability as measured by extracellular field recordings and upregulated fosab transcripts. Neural vglut2a and gad1b transcript levels were disrupted in kcna1a-/- larvae, indicative of a neuronal excitatory/inhibitory imbalance, as well as a significant reduction in cellular respiration in kcna1a-/- , consistent with dysregulation of neurometabolism. Notably, carbamazepine suppressed the impaired startle response and brain hyperexcitability in kcna1a-/- zebrafish but had no effect on the seizure frequency in Kcna1-/- mice, suggesting that this EA1 zebrafish model might better translate to humans than rodents. SIGNIFICANCE: We conclude that zebrafish kcna1a-/- show ataxia and epilepsy-related phenotypes and are responsive to carbamazepine treatment, consistent with EA1 patients. These findings suggest that kcna1-/- zebrafish are a useful model for drug screening as well as studying the underlying disease biology.

A novel metabolism-based phenotypic drug discovery platform in zebrafish uncovers HDACs 1 and 3 as a potential combined anti-seizure drug target.

Despite the development of newer anti-seizure medications over the past 50 years, 30-40% of patients with epilepsy remain refractory to treatment. One explanation for this lack of progress is that the current screening process is largely biased towards transmembrane channels and receptors, and ignores intracellular proteins and enzymes that might serve as efficacious molecular targets. Here, we report the development of a novel drug screening platform that harnesses the power of zebrafish genetics and combines it with in vivo bioenergetics screening assays to uncover therapeutic agents that improve mitochondrial health in diseased animals. By screening commercially available chemical libraries of approved drugs, for which the molecular targets and pathways are well characterized, we were able to reverse-identify the proteins targeted by efficacious compounds and confirm the physiological roles that they play by utilizing other pharmacological ligands. Indeed, using an 870-compound screen in kcna1-morpholino epileptic zebrafish larvae, we uncovered vorinostat (Zolinza™; suberanilohydroxamic acid, SAHA) as a potent anti-seizure agent. We further demonstrated that vorinostat decreased average daily seizures by ∼60% in epileptic Kcna1-null mice using video-EEG recordings. Given that vorinostat is a broad histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, we then delineated a specific subset of HDACs, namely HDACs 1 and 3, as potential drug targets for future screening. In summary, we have developed a novel phenotypic, metabolism-based experimental therapeutics platform that can be used to identify new molecular targets for future drug discovery in epilepsy.

Low-dose exposure to bisphenol A and replacement bisphenol S induces precocious hypothalamic neurogenesis in embryonic zebrafish.

Bisphenol A (BPA), a ubiquitous endocrine disruptor that is present in many household products, has been linked to obesity, cancer, and, most relevant here, childhood neurological disorders such as anxiety and hyperactivity. However, how BPA exposure translates into these neurodevelopmental disorders remains poorly understood. Here, we used zebrafish to link BPA mechanistically to disease etiology. Strikingly, treatment of embryonic zebrafish with very low-dose BPA (0.0068 µM, 1,000-fold lower than the accepted human daily exposure) and bisphenol S (BPS), a common analog used in BPA-free products, resulted in 180% and 240% increases, respectively, in neuronal birth (neurogenesis) within the hypothalamus, a highly conserved brain region involved in hyperactivity. Furthermore, restricted BPA/BPS exposure specifically during the neurogenic window caused later hyperactive behaviors in zebrafish larvae. Unexpectedly, we show that BPA-mediated precocious neurogenesis and the concomitant behavioral phenotype were not dependent on predicted estrogen receptors but relied on androgen receptor-mediated up-regulation of aromatase. Although human epidemiological results are still emerging, an association between high maternal urinary BPA during gestation and hyperactivity and other behavioral disturbances in the child has been suggested. Our studies here provide mechanistic support that the neurogenic period indeed may be a window of vulnerability and uncovers previously unexplored avenues of research into how endocrine disruptors might perturb early brain development. Furthermore, our results show that BPA-free products are not necessarily safer and support the removal of all bisphenols from consumer merchandise.

1,2,5,6,9,10-αHexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) impairs thyroid hormone-induced dendrite arborization of Purkinje cells and suppresses thyroid hormone receptor-mediated transcription.

1,2,5,6,9,10-αHexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) is a nonaromatic, brominated cyclic alkane used as an additive flame retardant. It bioaccumulates, persists in the environment, and has been detected in humans and wildlife. Its developmental neurotoxicity is of great concern. We investigated the effect of HBCD on thyroid hormone (TH) receptor (TR)-mediated transcription using transient transfection-based reporter gene assays and found that a low-dose (10(-10) M) HBCD suppressed TR-mediated transcription. We further examined the effect of HBCD on interaction of TR with TH response element (TRE) and found a partial dissociation of TR from TRE. HBCD did not dissociate steroid receptor coactivator-1 from TR in the presence of TH; neither did it recruit corepressors (N-CoR and SMRT) to TR in the absence of TH. Furthermore, low-dose HBCD (10(-10) M) significantly suppressed TH-induced dendrite arborization of Purkinje cells in primary cerebellar culture derived from newborn rat. These results show that low-dose HBCD can potentially disrupt TR-mediated transactivation and impairs Purkinje cell dendritogenesis, suggesting that HBCD can interfere with TH action in target organs, including the developing brain.

Metabolism-based drug discovery in zebrafish: An emerging strategy to uncover new anti-seizure therapies.

As one of the most common neurological disorders, epilepsy can occur throughout the lifespan and from a multiplicity of causes, including genetic mutations, inflammation, neurotrauma, or brain malformations. Although pharmacological agents are the mainstay of treatment for seizure control, an unyielding 30-40% of patients remain refractory to these medications and continue to experience spontaneous recurrent seizures with attendant life-long cognitive, behavioural, and mental health issues, as well as an increased risk for sudden unexpected death. Despite over eight decades of antiseizure drug (ASD) discovery and the approval of dozens of new medications, the percentage of this refractory population remains virtually unchanged, suggesting that drugs with new and unexpected mechanisms of action are needed. In this brief review, we discuss the need for new animal models of epilepsy, with a particular focus on the advantages and disadvantages of zebrafish. We also outline the evidence that epilepsy is characterized by derangements in mitochondrial function and introduce the rationale and promise of bioenergetics as a functional readout assay to uncover novel ASDs. We also consider limitations of a zebrafish metabolism-based drug screening approach. Our goal is to discuss the opportunities and challenges of further development of mitochondrial screening strategies for the development of novel ASDs. This article is part of the special issue entitled 'New Epilepsy Therapies for the 21st Century - From Antiseizure Drugs to Prevention, Modification and Cure of Epilepsy'.

Impact of endocrine-disrupting chemicals on thyroid function and brain development.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are synthetic or natural substances in the environment. EDCs have been shown to disrupt reproductive, developmental and other homeostatic systems by interfering with the synthesis, secretion, transport, metabolism and action of endogenous hormones including the thyroid hormone (TH) system. Since TH plays a critical role in brain development, the exposure to TH-system disrupting EDCs during development may have serious consequences. In this article, representative previous studies showing the effect of representative EDCs on the TH system are summarized. Then, the molecular mechanisms of action of polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers on the TH system are discussed further. Particularly, the effect of polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers on TH-mediated brain development is discussed. Our recent studies may provide a novel idea regarding the effect of EDCs on the TH system.

An in vitro method to study the effects of thyroid hormone-disrupting chemicals on neuronal development.

Thyroid hormones (THs) play critical roles for normal cerebellar development. It has been reported that several environmental chemicals may affect cerebellar development through TH system. One such example is the suppression of TH receptor (TR)-mediated transcription by polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). To determine the effect of these chemicals on brain development, we established a primary culture system of rat cerebellar Purkinje cells. Using this system, as low as 10(-10)M TH induced Purkinje cell dendritic arborization and such effect was dose-dependent. We examined the effect of decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE209) using this system. Dendritic development of the Purkinje cells was suppressed by 10(-10)M BDE209, that was compatible to the result of the suppression of TR-mediated transcription by using reporter gene assay. These results suggest that TH plays a pivotal role in the development of the Purkinje cell dendrites. Together with in vitro assay system such as reporter gene assay and liquid chemiluminescent DNA-pull down assay, an in vitro protein-DNA binding assay, these assay systems provide us with precise information about environmental chemicals on brain development.

Disruption of thyroid hormone receptor-mediated transcription and thyroid hormone-induced Purkinje cell dendrite arborization by polybrominated diphenyl ethers.

BACKGROUND: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been used as flame retardants and are becoming a ubiquitous environmental contaminant. Adverse effects in the developing brain are of great health concern. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effect of PBDEs/hydroxylated PBDEs (OH-PBDEs) on thyroid hormone (TH) receptor (TR)-mediated transcription and on TH-induced dendrite arborization of cerebellar Purkinje cells. METHODS: We examined the effect of PBDEs/OH-PBDEs on TR action using a transient transfection-based reporter gene assay. TR-cofactor binding was studied by the mammalian two-hybrid assay, and TR-DNA [TH response element (TRE)] binding was examined by the liquid chemiluminescent DNA pull-down assay. Chimeric receptors generated from TR and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) were used to identify the functional domain of TR responsible for PBDE action. The change in dendrite arborization of the Purkinje cell in primary culture of newborn rat cerebellum was also examined. RESULTS: Several PBDE congeners suppressed TR-mediated transcription. The magnitude of suppression correlated with that of TR-TRE dissociation. PBDEs suppressed transcription of chimeric receptors containing the TR DNA binding domain (TR-DBD). We observed no such suppression with chimeras containing GR-DBD. In the cerebellar culture, PBDE significantly suppressed TH-induced Purkinje cell dendrite arborization. CONCLUSIONS: Several PBDE congeners may disrupt the TH system by partial dissociation of TR from TRE acting through TR-DBD and, consequently, may disrupt normal brain development.

Suppression of thyroid hormone receptor-mediated transcription and disruption of thyroid hormone-induced cerebellar morphogenesis by the polybrominated biphenyl mixture, BP-6.

Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) are polyhalogenated, bioaccumulative flame retardant chemicals, which have been used in a variety of consumer and household products. They were accidentally introduced into the food chain in Michigan in 1973 and have remained a source of health concern. Studies have shown that exposure to PBB may cause adverse neurotoxic effects. We therefore examined the effects of BP-6, a PBB mixture, on thyroid hormone (TH) receptor (TR)-mediated transcription, on TH-induced Purkinje cell dendritogenesis, and on TH-induced cerebellar granule cell neurite extension. Our study shows that BP-6 suppressed TR-mediated transcription in CV-1 cells. Mammalian two-hybrid studies revealed that BP-6 did not inhibit coactivator binding to TR nor did it recruit corepressors to TR. Further examination using the liquid chemiluminescent DNA pull down assay revealed partial dissociation of TR from TH response element (TRE). In primary rat cerebellar culture, BP-6 significantly suppressed TH-induced dendrite arborization of Purkinje cells, and in reaggregate rat granule cell culture, impaired TH-induced neurite extension of granule cells. Taken together, our results indicate that BP-6 may disrupt TH homeostasis and consequently impair normal neuronal development.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) ameliorates the suppression of thyroid hormone-induced granule cell neurite extension by hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD).

Thyroid hormone (TH) plays an essential role in growth and differentiation of the central nervous system. Deficiency of TH during perinatal period results in abnormal brain development known as cretinism in human. We recently reported that an environmental chemical 1,2,5,6,9,10-α-hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) suppressed TH receptor (TR)-mediated transcription. To examine the effect of HBCD on cerebellar granule cells, we used purified rat cerebellar granule cells in reaggregate culture. Low dose HBCD (10(-10)M) significantly suppressed TH-induced neurite extension of granule cell aggregate. To clarify further the mechanisms of such suppression, we added brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) into culture medium, since BDNF plays a critical role in promoting granule cell development and is regulated by TH. BDNF completely rescued HBCD-induced suppression of granule cell neurite extension in the presence of T3. These results indicate that HBCD may disrupt TH-mediated brain development at least in part due to a disruption of the T3 stimulated increase in BDNF and BDNF may possess ability to ameliorate the effect of HBCD in granule cells.

Retinoic Acid receptor-related orphan receptor alpha-enhanced thyroid hormone receptor-mediated transcription requires its ligand binding domain which is not, by itself, sufficient: possible direct interaction of two receptors.

BACKGROUND: Natural mutant staggerer (sg) mice harbor a mutated retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor alpha (RORalpha). A genetic deletion corresponding to the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of RORalpha results in aberrant cerebellar development in the sg mice. These mice show similar neurotrophin expression to that seen in perinatal hypothyroid animals. RORalpha augments thyroid hormone receptor (TR)-mediated transcription, which may be partly responsible for the similar cerebellar abnormalities between sg and hypothyroid animals. The objective of this study is to examine further the mechanisms of augmentation of TR action by RORalpha. We examined whether TR directly binds to ROR and which regions of TR or ROR are required for the TR-ROR interaction. METHODS: A transient transfection-based reporter gene assay was performed to measure the activity of TR-mediated transcription in CV-1 cells. To examine TR-RORalpha binding mammalian two-hybrid and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) pull-down assays were carried out. RESULTS: Although full-length RORalpha augmented TRalpha1- or beta1-mediated transcription, such augmentation was not observed with sg-type mutant RORalpha (RORsg) that contained the RORalpha N-terminal and DNA-binding domain (DBD) and a part of the LBD. On the other hand, the transcription of Gal4-DBD-fused TRbeta1-LBD was suppressed by RORalpha, indicating that RORalpha does not interact with TR-LBD. Full-length TRbeta1 bound to RORalpha or RORsg in GST pull-down assays; however, RORalpha-LBD did not bind to TRalpha1 or beta1. CONCLUSION: The full-length forms of both RORalpha and TR are essential for the augmentation of TR-mediated transcription by RORalpha.