Optogenetic control of epileptiform activity

TY - JOUR

T1 - Optogenetic control of epileptiform activity

AU - Tønnesen, Jan

AU - Sørensen, Andreas T

AU - Deisseroth, Karl

AU - Lundberg, Cecilia

AU - Kokaia, Merab

PY - 2009/7/21

Y1 - 2009/7/21

N2 - The optogenetic approach to gain control over neuronal excitability both in vitro and in vivo has emerged as a fascinating scientific tool to explore neuronal networks, but it also opens possibilities for developing novel treatment strategies for neurologic conditions. We have explored whether such an optogenetic approach using the light-driven halorhodopsin chloride pump from Natronomonas pharaonis (NpHR), modified for mammalian CNS expression to hyperpolarize central neurons, may inhibit excessive hyperexcitability and epileptiform activity. We show that a lentiviral vector containing the NpHR gene under the calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIalpha promoter transduces principal cells of the hippocampus and cortex and hyperpolarizes these cells, preventing generation of action potentials and epileptiform activity during optical stimulation. This study proves a principle, that selective hyperpolarization of principal cortical neurons by NpHR is sufficient to curtail paroxysmal activity in transduced neurons and can inhibit stimulation train-induced bursting in hippocampal organotypic slice cultures, which represents a model tissue of pharmacoresistant epilepsy. This study demonstrates that the optogenetic approach may prove useful for controlling epileptiform activity and opens a future perspective to develop it into a strategy to treat epilepsy.

AB - The optogenetic approach to gain control over neuronal excitability both in vitro and in vivo has emerged as a fascinating scientific tool to explore neuronal networks, but it also opens possibilities for developing novel treatment strategies for neurologic conditions. We have explored whether such an optogenetic approach using the light-driven halorhodopsin chloride pump from Natronomonas pharaonis (NpHR), modified for mammalian CNS expression to hyperpolarize central neurons, may inhibit excessive hyperexcitability and epileptiform activity. We show that a lentiviral vector containing the NpHR gene under the calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIalpha promoter transduces principal cells of the hippocampus and cortex and hyperpolarizes these cells, preventing generation of action potentials and epileptiform activity during optical stimulation. This study proves a principle, that selective hyperpolarization of principal cortical neurons by NpHR is sufficient to curtail paroxysmal activity in transduced neurons and can inhibit stimulation train-induced bursting in hippocampal organotypic slice cultures, which represents a model tissue of pharmacoresistant epilepsy. This study demonstrates that the optogenetic approach may prove useful for controlling epileptiform activity and opens a future perspective to develop it into a strategy to treat epilepsy.

KW - Action Potentials

KW - Animals

KW - Archaeal Proteins

KW - Cell Membrane

KW - Epilepsy

KW - Gene Expression Regulation

KW - Hippocampus

KW - Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potentials

KW - Light

KW - Mice

KW - Mice, Inbred BALB C

KW - Neurons

KW - Optical Phenomena

KW - Pyramidal Cells

KW - Receptors, GABA-A

KW - Signal Transduction

KW - Transduction, Genetic

KW - Transgenes

KW - Journal Article

KW - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

U2 - 10.1073/pnas.0901915106

DO - 10.1073/pnas.0901915106

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 19581573

SN - 0027-8424

VL - 106

SP - 12162

EP - 12167

JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

IS - 29

ER -