Project description:Scn1b-/- mice are a model of Early Infantile Developmental Epileptic Encephalopathy (EIDEE). These mice exhibit characteristic seen in patients such as spontaneous siezures, ataxia, growth abnormalites, and a high incidence of premature mortality. The goal of this study was to identify changes in gene expression between Scn1b wild-type and Scn1b-/- mice in the atria
Project description:Pathogenic heterozygous missense mutations in the DNM1 gene result in a novel form of epileptic encephalopathy. DNM1 encodes for the large GTPase dynamin-1, an enzyme with an obligatory role in the endocytosis of synaptic vesicles (SVs) at mammalian nerve terminals. Pathogenic DNM1 mutations cluster within regions required for its essential GTPase activity, implicating disruption of this enzyme activity as being central to epileptic encephalopathy. We reveal that the most prevalent pathogenic mutation in the GTPase domain of DNM1, R237W, disrupts dynamin-1 enzyme activity and SV endocytosis when overexpressed in central neurons. To determine how this dominant-negative heterozygous mutant impacted cell, circuit and behaviour when expressed from its endogenous locus, we generated a mouse carrying the R237W mutation. Neurons isolated from heterozygous mice displayed dysfunctional SV endocytosis, which translated into altered excitatory neurotransmission and seizure-like phenotypes. Importantly, these phenotypes were corrected at the cell, circuit and in vivo level by the drug, BMS-204352, which accelerates SV endocytosis in wild-type neurons. This study therefore provides the first direct link between dysfunctional SV endocytosis and epilepsy, and importantly reveals that SV endocytosis is a viable therapeutic route for monogenic intractable epilepsies.
2023-08-14 | PXD039667 | Pride
Project description:Whole-exome sequencing and analysis for effective clinical diagnosis and variant discovery in early infantile epileptic encephalopathy
Project description:Scn1b null mice are a model of a severe developmental and epileptic encephalopathy called Dravet Syndrome (DS). The goal of this study was to identify changes in gene expression between Scn1b wild-type and Scn1b null mice before seizure onset (postnatal day 10)
Project description:We generated cerebral organoids from genetically engineered human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), modeling the devastating WOREE syndrome (DEE28), as a prototype for genetic epileptic encephalopathies (EEs). Transcriptome analysis of mutated organoids compared to the WT revealed molecular changes related to both early infantile EEs and specifically to WOREE syndrome.
Project description:During severe systemic infections with and without sepsis neurological changes are common and range from sickness behavior to septic associated encephalopathy. Encephalopathy is due to a system-wide inflammatory response leading to an often fatal increase in the permeability of the blood-brain barrier. To elucidate the cytotoxic impact and brain-specific host response during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), we profiled the olfactory mucosa, olfactory bulb, brainstem and cerebellum from deceased COVID-19 patients who underwent rapid autopsy.
Project description:CYFIP2 is a component of the WAVE regulatory complex which regulates actin polymerization and branching in diverse cellular compartments. Recent molecular genetic studies identified mutations of CYFIP2 in patients with early-onset epileptic encephalopathy and microcephaly, suggesting that CYFIP2 may have some roles in embryonic brain development. To understand its functions in vivo at the molecular level, we performed RNA-seq analysis in embryonic Cyfip2 mutant mice.
Project description:Scn1b null mice are a model of a severe developmental and epileptic encephalopathy called Dravet Syndrome (DS). The goal of this study was to identify changes in gene expression between Scn1b wild-type and Scn1b null mice before seizure onset (postnatal day 10) in cortical layer VI, a region known to have differences in excitability in Scn1b null mice. RNA-Seq identified 21 genes, primarily extracellular matrix genes, which were differentially expressed between the two genotypes.
