Aberrant sodium channel activity in the complex seizure disorder of Celf4 mutant mice

作者：Sun Wenzhi; Wagnon Jacy L; Mahaffey Connie L; Briese Michael; Ule Jernej; Frankel Wayne N^*

来源：The Journal of Physiology, 2013, 591(1): 241-255.

DOI：10.1113/jphysiol.2012.240168

Mice deficient for CELF4, a neuronal RNA-binding protein, have a complex seizure disorder that includes both convulsive and non-convulsive seizures, and is dependent upon Celf4 gene dosage and mouse strain background. It was previously shown that Celf4 is expressed predominantly in excitatory neurons, and that deficiency results in abnormal excitatory synaptic neurotransmission. To examine the physiological and molecular basis of this, we studied Celf4-deficient neurons in brain slices. Assessment of intrinsic properties of layer V cortical pyramidal neurons showed that neurons from mutant heterozygotes and homozygotes have a lower action potential (AP) initiation threshold and a larger AP gain when compared with wild-type neurons. Celf4 mutant neurons also demonstrate an increase in persistent sodium current (INaP) and a hyperpolarizing shift in the voltage dependence of activation. As part of a related study, we find that CELF4 directly binds Scn8a mRNA, encoding sodium channel Nav1.6, the primary instigator of AP at the axon initial segment (AIS) and the main carrier of INaP. In the present study we find that CELF4 deficiency results in a dramatic elevation in the expression of Nav1.6 protein at the AIS in both null and heterozygous neurons. Together these results suggest that activation of Nav1.6 plays a crucial role in seizure generation in this complex model of neurological disease.

• 出版日期2013-1