Polyhydramnios, megalencephaly, symptomatic epilepsy syndrome (PMSE~ OMIM# 611087) is a severe developmental disorder characterized by intractable epilepsy, craniofacial dysmorphism, cognitive impairment, autism, and a high childhood mortality rate identified in the Old Order Mennonite community of Lancaster, PA. PMSE results from mutations in the STRADA gene. The encoded protein STRADA is believed to signal via LKB1:STRADA:MO25 complex through AMPK and mTOR to modulate cerebral cortical development. We have recently generated IPSC derived neurons from PMSE patients as a cell platform that can be screened with new pharmacological agents to rescue aberrant neuronal firing, hyperactivated mTOR pathway signaling, and abnormal cell morphology and motility. These experiments provide a human cell line derived from a neurodevelopmental disorder with a 100% association with epilepsy that can be directly tested to discover how neurons become epileptic over time and how new mTOR and AMPK signaling modulators can be targeted to prevent seizures. In the first Aim, we will assay how changes in cell size, morphology, an motility in PMSE neurons can be rescued with mTOR and AMPK pathway agonists and antagonists. In the second Aim, we will use patch clamp physiology approaches to show how aberrant cell firing can be rescued with mTOR and AMPK agonists and antagonists.

Public Health Relevance

The generation of neurons from induced pluripotent stem cells derived from human fibroblasts provides a new strategy to study the mechanisms leading to epilepsy associated with abnormal mTOR signaling and to develop new platform models systems to screen anti-seizure medications.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
5R21NS087181-02
Application #
8840673
Study Section
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Initial Review Group (NSD)
Program Officer
Leenders, Miriam
Project Start
2014-05-01
Project End
2016-04-30
Budget Start
2015-05-01
Budget End
2016-04-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Temple University
Department
Pediatrics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
057123192
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19122