title: Epigenetic Downregulation of Scn3a Expression by Valproate: a Possible Role in Its Anticonvulsant Activity.
abstract: Upregulation of sodium channel SCN3A expression in epileptic tissues is known to contribute to enhancing neuronal excitability and the development of epilepsy. Therefore, certain strategies to reduce SCN3A expression may be helpful for seizure control. Here, we reveal a novel role of valproate (VPA) in the epigenetic downregulation of Scn3a expression. We found that VPA, instead of carbamazepine (CBZ) and lamotrigine (LTG), could significantly downregulate Scn3a expression in mouse Neuro-2a cells. Luciferase assays and CpG methylation analyses showed that VPA induced the methylation at the -39C site in Scn3a promoter which decreased the promoter activity. We further showed that VPA downregulated the expression of methyl-CpG-binding domain protein 2 (MBD2) at the posttranscriptional level and knockdown of MBD2 increased Scn3a expression. In addition, we found that VPA induced the expression of fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) protein and FTO knockdown abolished the repressive effects of VPA on MBD2 and Nav1.3 expressions. Furthermore, VPA, instead of other two anticonvulsant drugs, induced the expressions of Scn3a and Mbd2 and reduced Fto expression in the hippocampus of VPA-treated seizure mice. Taken together, this study suggests an epigenetic pathway for the VPA-induced downregulation of Scn3a expression, which provides a possible role of this pathway in the anticonvulsant action of VPA.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250 Changang East Road, Guangzhou, 510260, China.|Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Education of China, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Na-Na
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250 Changang East Road, Guangzhou, 510260, China.|Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Education of China, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Hui-Ling
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250 Changang East Road, Guangzhou, 510260, China.|Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Education of China, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Guo-Wang
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250 Changang East Road, Guangzhou, 510260, China.|Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Education of China, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250 Changang East Road, Guangzhou, 510260, China.|Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Education of China, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250 Changang East Road, Guangzhou, 510260, China.|Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Education of China, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Hai-Jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250 Changang East Road, Guangzhou, 510260, China.|Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Education of China, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Mei-Mei
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250 Changang East Road, Guangzhou, 510260, China.|Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Education of China, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Qi-Hua
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250 Changang East Road, Guangzhou, 510260, China.|Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Education of China, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250 Changang East Road, Guangzhou, 510260, China.|Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Education of China, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Ping
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250 Changang East Road, Guangzhou, 510260, China. longyuesheng@gzhmu.edu.cn.|Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Education of China, Guangzhou, China. longyuesheng@gzhmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yue-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Long
mesh_terms: D000071516:Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018899:CpG Islands / Q000235:genetics; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D062552:NAV1.3 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C489326:Mbd2 protein, mouse; D062552:NAV1.3 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C515216:Scn3a protein, mouse; D014635:Valproic Acid; C524916:FTO protein, mouse; D000071516:Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO
keywords: CpG methylation; Epigenetic regulation; Scn3a; Seizure; Valproate