title: Brief report novel mechanism for valproate-induced teratogenicity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Valproic acid (VPA) is a commonly prescribed drug for those affected by epilepsy and bipolar disorders. VPA has a well known teratogenic potential, causing a variety of birth defects including neural tube defects (NTDs) and other congenital malformations, when women are treated with this medication during pregnancy. Unfortunately, the mechanism by which VPA is teratogenic remains unknown, although a range of potential mechanisms including histone deacetylase inhibition and folate antagonism have been proposed. The latter is of considerable importance, as clinicians need to know if additional folate supplements can prevent VPA-induced defects.
  
  
  METHODS
  We herein approach this question experimentally, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay assays and cell culture modeling, to demonstrate that VPA serves as a noncompetitive inhibitor of the high affinity folate receptors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Binding affinities experimentally determined through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay assays indicate that VPA serves as a noncompetitive substrate that can lessen the ability of the three primary folate forms to bind to the high affinity folate receptors. Tests in HEK293T cells indicate that the membrane-bound folate receptors of VPA treated cells bind significantly lower amounts of folic acid than do untreated cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  If these data translate to the overall transport and subsequent bioavailability of folates, noncompetitive inhibition of the folate receptors by VPA may serve to lower the bioavailable folates in VPA treated mothers. This represents a novel mechanism by which in utero VPA exposure could be disrupting developmental processes by noncompetitively binding to the folate receptors during embryogenesis, thus inducing the wide range of defects seen in babies born to VPA treated mothers.
authors: Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas, Austin, Texas.
authors: Kristin
authors: K
authors: Fathe
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: Palacios
authors: Richard H
authors: RH
authors: Finnell
mesh_terms: D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; D001682:Biological Availability; D002460:Cell Line; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D058973:Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011485:Protein Binding; D013723:Teratogens; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D058973:Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored; D013723:Teratogens; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D014635:Valproic Acid; D005492:Folic Acid
keywords: birth defects; folate; teratogens; valproic acid; vitamin transport