title: Histone deacetylase is a direct target of valproic acid, a potent anticonvulsant, mood stabilizer, and teratogen.
abstract: Valproic acid is widely used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder and is also a potent teratogen, but its mechanisms of action in any of these settings are unknown. We report that valproic acid activates Wntdependent gene expression, similar to lithium, the mainstay of therapy for bipolar disorder. Valproic acid, however, acts through a distinct pathway that involves direct inhibition of histone deacetylase (IC(50) for HDAC1 = 0.4 mm). At therapeutic levels, valproic acid mimics the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A, causing hyperacetylation of histones in cultured cells. Valproic acid, like trichostatin A, also activates transcription from diverse exogenous and endogenous promoters. Furthermore, valproic acid and trichostatin A have remarkably similar teratogenic effects in vertebrate embryos, while non-teratogenic analogues of valproic acid do not inhibit histone deacetylase and do not activate transcription. Based on these observations, we propose that inhibition of histone deacetylase provides a mechanism for valproic acid-induced birth defects and could also explain the efficacy of valproic acid in the treatment of bipolar disorder.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6148, USA.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Phiel
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: E Y
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Guenther
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lazar
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Klein
mesh_terms: D000107:Acetylation; D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D056284:Histone Deacetylase 1; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; D006655:Histone Deacetylases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D008094:Lithium / Q000494:pharmacology; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010957:Plasmids / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013723:Teratogens; D013997:Time Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D014981:Xenopus; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D018692:Antimanic Agents; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; D006657:Histones; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D013723:Teratogens; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; C012589:trichostatin A; D014635:Valproic Acid; D008094:Lithium; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3; C110550:HDAC1 protein, human; D056284:Histone Deacetylase 1; D006655:Histone Deacetylases