Nav1.1 modulation by a novel triazole compound attenuates epileptic seizures in rodents

ACS Chem Biol. 2014 May 16;9(5):1204-12. doi: 10.1021/cb500108p. Epub 2014 Mar 31.

Abstract

Here, we report the discovery of a novel anticonvulsant drug with a molecular organization based on the unique scaffold of rufinamide, an anti-epileptic compound used in a clinical setting to treat severe epilepsy disorders such as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Although accumulating evidence supports a working mechanism through voltage-gated sodium (Nav) channels, we found that a clinically relevant rufinamide concentration inhibits human (h)Nav1.1 activation, a distinct working mechanism among anticonvulsants and a feature worth exploring for treating a growing number of debilitating disorders involving hNav1.1. Subsequent structure-activity relationship experiments with related N-benzyl triazole compounds on four brain hNav channel isoforms revealed a novel drug variant that (1) shifts hNav1.1 opening to more depolarized voltages without further alterations in the gating properties of hNav1.1, hNav1.2, hNav1.3, and hNav1.6; (2) increases the threshold to action potential initiation in hippocampal neurons; and (3) greatly reduces the frequency of seizures in three animal models. Altogether, our results provide novel molecular insights into the rational development of Nav channel-targeting molecules based on the unique rufinamide scaffold, an outcome that may be exploited to design drugs for treating disorders involving particular Nav channel isoforms while limiting adverse effects.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / drug effects
  • Animals
  • Anticonvulsants / chemistry*
  • Anticonvulsants / pharmacology
  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Drug Discovery
  • Epilepsy / drug therapy*
  • Hippocampus / cytology
  • Hippocampus / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • NAV1.1 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel / metabolism*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Triazoles / chemistry*
  • Triazoles / pharmacology
  • Triazoles / therapeutic use*
  • Xenopus

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • NAV1.1 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel
  • Triazoles
  • rufinamide