Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-27-2020

Keywords

JMG

JAX Source

Cell rep 2020 Oct 27; 33(4):108303

Volume

33

Issue

4

First Page

108303

Last Page

108303

ISSN

2211-1247

PMID

33113364

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108303

Grant

OD020351

Abstract

Gain-of-function (GOF) variants in K+ channels cause severe childhood epilepsies, but there are no mechanisms to explain how increased K+ currents lead to network hyperexcitability. Here, we introduce a human Na+-activated K+ (KNa) channel variant (KCNT1-Y796H) into mice and, using a multiplatform approach, find motor cortex hyperexcitability and early-onset seizures, phenotypes strikingly similar to those of human patients. Although the variant increases KNa currents in cortical excitatory and inhibitory neurons, there is an increase in the KNa current across subthreshold voltages only in inhibitory neurons, particularly in those with non-fast-spiking properties, resulting in inhibitory-neuron-specific impairments in excitability and action potential (AP) generation. We further observe evidence of synaptic rewiring, including increases in homotypic synaptic connectivity, accompanied by network hyperexcitability and hypersynchronicity. These findings support inhibitory-neuron-specific mechanisms in mediating the epileptogenic effects of KCNT1 channel GOF, offering cell-type-specific currents and effects as promising targets for therapeutic intervention.

Comments

This article is available under the Creative Commons CC-BY-NC license.

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