The electroneutral K+/Cl- co-transporter 2 (KCC2) allows neurons to maintain low intracellular Cl- concentrations, an essential prerequisite for fast synaptic inhibition mediated by type A ?-aminobutyric acid (GABAAR). Consistent with this, deficits in KCC2 activity lead to seizures and are believed to be central to the pathology of Status Epilepticus (SE). SE is the most devastating form of epilepsy, and accounts for 42,000 deaths per year in the US, and hundreds of thousands more cases of severe brain damage. SE becomes less tractable with time, leading to the development of drug resistant seizures, resulting in increased mortality and morbidity. SE is associated with a cost of $4.8 billion per year in the US. Consistent with its essential role in regulating neuronal Cl- homeostasis, deficits in KCC2 activity are seen in patients with intractable epilepsy, and in animal models of SE. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms by which SE leads to inactivation of KCC2 is of clear clinical significance. KCC2 function is subject to both positive and negative modulation via phosphorylation of key regulatory residues within the C-terminal intracellular domain of this protein. Specifically, phosphorylation of serine 940 (S940) by protein kinase C enhances KCC2 activity, while phosphorylation of the adjacent threonine residues 906 and 1007 by with-no-lysine kinases (WNKs) decreases transporter activity (Lee et al., 2007; 2011; Riehart, 2009). Thus, one mechanism that may contribute to KCC2 inactivation during SE is modifications in the phosphorylation of these key regulatory residues. To address this issue, we have utilized phospho-specific antibodies against S940 and T906. In addition, we have created mice in which the phosphorylation of these key regulatory residues has been prevented via mutation to alanines. Finally, we have made use of mice deficient in WNK3, the principle WNK isoform expressed in the adult brain. Preliminary studies using these novel reagents have allowed us to formulate an overarching hypothesis that will be tested here; Persistent elevations in neuronal activity during SE lead to dephosphorylation of S940, but enhanced phosphorylation of T906/1007, events that lead to rapid inhibition of KCC2, reductions in the efficacy of GABAergic inhibition that directly contribute to the pathophysiology of SE. Our studies will focus on the following specific aims.
Specific Aim 1. To test the hypothesis that deficits in KCC2 phosphorylation contribute to the development and lethality of SE Specific Aim 2. To test the hypothesis that S940A mice exhibit enhanced T906 phosphorylation and a selective deficit in KCC2 activity during SE Specific Aim 3. To test the hypothesis that reducing WNK dependent phosphorylation of KCC2 prevents the development of SE. Collectively these experiments will provide key mechanistic insights into the pathophysiology of SE, and may aid the development of novel therapeutics to limit the impact of this devastating disorder.

Public Health Relevance

Status epilepticus (SE) is a medical emergency leading to 42,000 deaths in the US per year and to thousands more cases of brain damage. The current treatments for SE rapidly loose efficacy and therefore developing new therapeutics to limit the impact of this trauma is of clear clinical significance. Here we will determine the role that inactivation and degradation of the potassium/chloride co-transporter plays in the pathophysiology of SE. Therefore this study may therefore lead to the development of more efficacious treatments to treat SE

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS087662-02
Application #
8920177
Study Section
Clinical Neuroplasticity and Neurotransmitters Study Section (CNNT)
Program Officer
Whittemore, Vicky R
Project Start
2014-09-15
Project End
2019-07-31
Budget Start
2015-08-01
Budget End
2016-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Tufts University
Department
Neurosciences
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
039318308
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
Hines, Rochelle M; Maric, Hans Michael; Hines, Dustin J et al. (2018) Developmental seizures and mortality result from reducing GABAA receptor ?2-subunit interaction with collybistin. Nat Commun 9:3130
Moore, Yvonne E; Deeb, Tarek Z; Chadchankar, Heramb et al. (2018) Potentiating KCC2 activity is sufficient to limit the onset and severity of seizures. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 115:10166-10171
Wobst, Heike J; Wesolowski, Steven S; Chadchankar, Jayashree et al. (2017) Cytoplasmic Relocalization of TAR DNA-Binding Protein 43 Is Not Sufficient to Reproduce Cellular Pathologies Associated with ALSIn vitro. Front Mol Neurosci 10:46
Rifkin, Robert A; Moss, Stephen J; Slesinger, Paul A (2017) G Protein-Gated Potassium Channels: A Link to Drug Addiction. Trends Pharmacol Sci 38:378-392
Modgil, Amit; Parakala, Manasa L; Ackley, Michael A et al. (2017) Endogenous and synthetic neuroactive steroids evoke sustained increases in the efficacy of GABAergic inhibition via a protein kinase C-dependent mechanism. Neuropharmacology 113:314-322
Mukherjee, Jayanta; Cardarelli, Ross A; Cantaut-Belarif, Yasmine et al. (2017) Estradiol modulates the efficacy of synaptic inhibition by decreasing the dwell time of GABAA receptors at inhibitory synapses. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 114:11763-11768
Kang, Ji-Yong; Chadchankar, Jayashree; Vien, Thuy N et al. (2017) Deficits in the activity of presynaptic ?-aminobutyric acid type B receptors contribute to altered neuronal excitability in fragile X syndrome. J Biol Chem 292:6621-6632
Trattnig, Sarah M; Gasiorek, Agnes; Deeb, Tarek Z et al. (2016) Copper and protons directly activate the zinc-activated channel. Biochem Pharmacol 103:109-17
Nakamura, Yasuko; Morrow, Danielle H; Modgil, Amit et al. (2016) Proteomic Characterization of Inhibitory Synapses Using a Novel pHluorin-tagged ?-Aminobutyric Acid Receptor, Type A (GABAA), ?2 Subunit Knock-in Mouse. J Biol Chem 291:12394-407
Vien, Thuy N; Moss, Stephen J; Davies, Paul A (2016) Regulating the Efficacy of Inhibition Through Trafficking of ?-Aminobutyric Acid Type A Receptors. Anesth Analg 123:1220-1227

Showing the most recent 10 out of 19 publications