diff --git a/manuscript.tex b/manuscript.tex index da986f7..efbb87a 100644 --- a/manuscript.tex +++ b/manuscript.tex @@ -107,33 +107,30 @@ Using a diverse collection of neuronal models, the effects of changes in ion cur Ion channels determine neuronal excitability and mutations that alter ion channel properties result in neurological disorders called channelopathies. Although the genetic nature of such mutations as well as their effects on the ion channel's biophysical properties are routinely assessed experimentally, determination of the role in altering neuronal firing is more difficult. Computational modelling bridges this gap and demonstrates that the cell type in which a mutation occurs is an important determinant in the effects of firing. As a result, classification of ion channel mutations as loss or gain of function is useful to describe the ionic current but care should be taken when applying this classification on the level of neuronal firing. \par\null -\section*{Introduction (750 Words Maximum - Currently \textcolor{red}{837})} +\section*{Introduction} %(750 Words Maximum - Currently \textcolor{red}{837})} %\textit{The Introduction should briefly indicate the objectives of the study and provide enough background information to clarify why the study was undertaken and what hypotheses were tested.} +Voltage-gated ion channels are vital in determining neuronal excitability, action potential generation and firing patterns \citep{bernard_channelopathies_2008, carbone_ion_2020}. In particular, the properties and combinations of ion channels and their resulting currents determine the firing properties of the neuron \citep{rutecki_neuronal_1992, pospischil_minimal_2008}. However, ion channel function can be disturb resulting in altered ionic current properties and altered neuronal firing behaviour\citep{carbone_ion_2020}. Ion channel mutations are a common cause of such channelopathies and are often associated with hereditary clinical disorders \citep{bernard_channelopathies_2008, carbone_ion_2020}, \textcolor{red}{such as ... }. -Neuronal ion channels are vital in determining neuronal excitability, action potential generation and firing patterns \citep{bernard_channelopathies_2008, carbone_ion_2020}. In particular, the properties and combinations of ion channels and their resulting currents determine the firing properties of the neuron \citep{rutecki_neuronal_1992, pospischil_minimal_2008}. However, ion channel function can be disturbed resulting in altered ionic current properties and altered neuronal firing behaviour \citep{carbone_ion_2020}. Ion channel mutations are a common cause of such channelopathies and are often associated with hereditary clinical disorders \citep{bernard_channelopathies_2008, carbone_ion_2020}. The effects of these mutations are frequently presumed \cite{Balestrini1044} or determined at a biophysical level, however assessment of the impact of these mutations on neuronal firing and excitability is more difficult. +Research on the effect of these altered currents on neuronal firing is important for understanding the disease and finding possible mediactions. There are a lot of widely accepted experimtental approaches. Transfection of heterologous expression systems without endogenous currents reveals changes in ion current kinetics \textcolor{red}{(cite some stuff)}. Simulations of these effects can predict their effect on neuronal firing \textcolor{red}{(cite some stuff)}. Or the influence on firing behaviour can be directly measured in transfected primary neuronal cultures \textcolor{red}{(cite some stuff)} or brain slice recrodings of mouse lines \textcolor{red}{(cite some stuff)}. -Experimentally, these mutations are frequently determined at a biophysical level in heterologous expression systems that contain no endogenous ionic currents. These experiments can determine how the voltage dependent kinetics have changed, but only allow for rough predictions about how the firing rate of a neuron is affected. +However, \textcolor{red}{since experimental ressources are limited,} the effect on the firing behaviour of different neuron types is often unclear \textcolor{red}{(and always incomplete)}. Different neuron types have different ion current compositions and therefore should react differently to changes in one current. In most cases, the effect size should depend on the expression level of the affected current \textcolor{red}{(cite some stuff, cite NikoPaper)}. \textcolor{red}{Qualitative changes with expression level can also be assumed (probably Yuanyuan 2019, \citep{rutecki_neuronal_1992, pospischil_minimal_2008,Kispersky2012, golowasch_failure_2002, barreiro_-current_2012, Noebels2017})}. Two neuron types can even be affected in completly different ways. The R1629H mutation in \textcolor{red}{SCN8A} for example causes less firing in pyramidal neurons, while affected interneurons have more action potentials. -Transfection of primary neuron cultures can overcome these limitations and changes in firing behaviour can more readily be assessed \cite{Scalmani2006, Liu2019}. However, the relative expression and conductance of the transfected ion channel in relation to endogenous currents can be variable. As the firing behaviour and dynamics of neuronal models can be dramatically altered by altering relative current amplitudes \citep{rutecki_neuronal_1992, pospischil_minimal_2008,Kispersky2012, golowasch_failure_2002, barreiro_-current_2012}, primary neuronal cultures do probably not provide definitive insight into the effects of a channelopathy on \textit{in vivo} firing. +In this study, we simulate a repertoire of different neuron models to research the comparability of influence of changes in ion current properties on neuronal firing behaviour. -%One of the most realistic methods, but also the most time extensive and expensive, is the generation of a mouse line with the prefered mutation. - - -%Neuronal ion channels are vital in determining neuronal excitability, action potential generation and firing patterns \citep{bernard_channelopathies_2008, carbone_ion_2020}. In particular, the properties and combinations of ion channels and their resulting currents determine the firing properties of the neuron \citep{rutecki_neuronal_1992, pospischil_minimal_2008}. However, ion channel function can be disturbed resulting in altered ionic current properties and altered neuronal firing behaviour \citep{carbone_ion_2020}. Ion channel mutations are a common cause of such channelopathies and are often associated with hereditary clinical disorders \citep{bernard_channelopathies_2008, carbone_ion_2020}. The effects of these mutations are frequently presumed \cite{Balestrini1044} or determined at a biophysical level, however assessment of the impact of mutations on neuronal firing and excitability is more difficult. Experimentally, cell culture transfection does not replicate the exact interplay of endogenous currents nor does it take into account the complexity of the nervous system including factors such as expression patterns, intracellular regulation and modulation of ion channels as well as network effects \cite{Balestrini1044, Noebels2017}. Transfected currents are characterized in isolation and the role of these isolated currents in the context of other currents in a neuron cannot be definitively inferred \cite{Dunlop2008, Noebels2017}. Additionally, transfected currents are not expressed in the presence of physiologically present auxillary proteins and are even transfected in cells of different species. Furthermore, culture conditions can shape ion channel expression \citep{ponce_expression_2018}. +%Neuronal ion channels are vital in determining neuronal excitability, action potential generation and firing patterns \citep{bernard_channelopathies_2008, carbone_ion_2020}. In particular, the properties and combinations of ion channels and their resulting currents determine the firing properties of the neuron \citep{rutecki_neuronal_1992, pospischil_minimal_2008}. However, ion channel function can be disturb resulting in altered ionic current properties and altered neuronal firing behaviour \citep{carbone_ion_2020}. Ion channel mutations are a common cause of such channelopathies and are often associated with hereditary clinical disorders \citep{bernard_channelopathies_2008, carbone_ion_2020}. The effects of these mutations are frequently presumed \cite{Balestrini1044} or determined at a biophysical level, however assessment of the impact of mutations on neuronal firing and excitability is more difficult. Experimentally, cell culture transfection does not replicate the exact interplay of endogenous currents nor does it take into account the complexity of the nervous system including factors such as expression patterns, intracellular regulation and modulation of ion channels as well as network effects \cite{Balestrini1044, Noebels2017}. Transfected currents are characterized in isolation and the role of these isolated currents in the context of other currents in a neuron cannot be definitively inferred \cite{Dunlop2008, Noebels2017}. Additionally, transfected currents are not expressed in the presence of physiologically present auxillary proteins and are even transfected in cells of different species. Furthermore, culture conditions can shape ion channel expression \citep{ponce_expression_2018}. % Complex interactions between different cell types and circuit level effects \textit{in vivo} are neglected in transfected cell culture. %Ion channel transfection of primary neuronal cultures can overcome some of the limitations of cell culture expression. In transfected neuronal cell cultures firing can more readily be assessed as endogenous currents are present, however the expressed and endogenous versions of the same ion channel are present in the cell \cite{Scalmani2006, Smith2018}. To avoid the confound of both expressed and endogenous current contributing to firing, a drug resistance can be introduced to the transfected ion channel and the endogenous version of this current can be pharmacologically silenced \cite{Liu2019}. Although addition of TTX-resistance to \(\textrm{Na}_{\textrm{V}}\) does not alter the gating properties of these channels \cite{Leffler2005}, the relative expression of the transfected ion channel in relation to endogenous currents can be variable and non-specific blocking of ion channels not affected by the channelopathy may occur. As the firing behaviour and dynamics of neuronal models can be dramatically altered by altering relative current amplitudes \citep{rutecki_neuronal_1992, pospischil_minimal_2008,Kispersky2012, golowasch_failure_2002, barreiro_-current_2012, Noebels2017}, primary neuronal cultures provide a useful general indication as to the effects of ion channel mutations but do not provide definitive insight into the effects of a channelopathy on \textit{in vivo} firing. -The generation of mice lines is costly and behavioural characterization of new mice lines is required to assess similarities to patient symptoms. Although the generation of mouse lines is desirable for a clinical disorder characterized by a specific ion channel mutation, this approach becomes impractical for -personalized treatment for large numbers of distinct mutations. General understanding of the effects of changes in current properties on neuronal firing may help to fill the need to understand the impacts of ion channel mutations on neuronal firing. Specifically, modelling approaches can be used to assess the impacts of current property changes on firing behaviour, bridging the gap between changes in the biophysical properties induced by mutations and clinical symptoms. Conductance-based neuronal models enable insight into the effects of ion channel mutations with specific effects of the resulting ionic current as well as enabling \textit{in silico} assessment of the relative effects of changes in biophysical properties of ionic currents on neuronal firing. The effects of altered voltage-gated potassium channel \Kv function is of particular interest in this study as it gives rise to the \IKv current and is associated with episodic ataxia type 1. Furthermore, modelling approaches enable predictions of the effects of specific mutation and drug induced biophysical property changes. +%The generation of mice lines is costly and behavioural characterization of new mice lines is required to assess similarities to patient symptoms. Although the generation of mouse lines is desirable for a clinical disorder characterized by a specific ion channel mutation, this approach becomes impractical for personalized treatment for large numbers of distinct mutations. General understanding of the effects of changes in current properties on neuronal firing may help to fill the need to understand the impacts of ion channel mutations on neuronal firing. Specifically, modelling approaches can be used to assess the impacts of current property changes on firing behaviour, bridging the gap between changes in the biophysical properties induced by mutations and clinical symptoms. Conductance-based neuronal models enable insight into the effects of ion channel mutations with specific effects of the resulting ionic current as well as enabling \textit{in silico} assessment of the relative effects of changes in biophysical properties of ionic currents on neuronal firing. The effects of altered voltage-gated potassium channel \Kv function is of particular interest in this study as it gives rise to the \IKv current and is associated with episodic ataxia type 1. Furthermore, modelling approaches enable predictions of the effects of specific mutation and drug induced biophysical property changes. -\Kv channels, encoded by the KCNA1 gene, play a role in repolarizing the action potential, neuronal firing patterns, neurotransmitter release, and saltatory conduction \citep{dadamo_episodic_1998} and are expressed throughout the CNS \citep{tsaur_differential_1992, wang_localization_1994, veh_immunohistochemical_1995}. -Altered \Kv channel function as a result of KCNA1 mutations in humans is associated with episodic ataxia type 1 (EA1) which is characterized by period attacks of ataxia and persistent myokymia \citep{parker_periodic_1946, van_dyke_hereditary_1975}. -Onset of EA1 is before 20 years of age \citep{brunt_familial_1990,rajakulendran_episodic_2007,van_dyke_hereditary_1975, jen_primary_2007}, is associated with a 10 times higher prevalence of epileptic seizures\citep{zuberi_novel_1999} and significantly impacts patient quality of life \citep{graves_episodic_2014}. +%\Kv channels, encoded by the KCNA1 gene, play a role in repolarizing the action potential, neuronal firing patterns, neurotransmitter release, and saltatory conduction \citep{dadamo_episodic_1998} and are expressed throughout the CNS \citep{tsaur_differential_1992, wang_localization_1994, veh_immunohistochemical_1995}. +%Altered \Kv channel function as a result of KCNA1 mutations in humans is associated with episodic ataxia type 1 (EA1) which is characterized by period attacks of ataxia and persistent myokymia \citep{parker_periodic_1946, van_dyke_hereditary_1975}. +%Onset of EA1 is before 20 years of age \citep{brunt_familial_1990,rajakulendran_episodic_2007,van_dyke_hereditary_1975, jen_primary_2007}, is associated with a 10 times higher prevalence of epileptic seizures\citep{zuberi_novel_1999} and significantly impacts patient quality of life \citep{graves_episodic_2014}. %\Kv null mice have spontaneous seizures without ataxia starting in the third postnatal week although impaired balance has been reported \citep{smart_deletion_1998, zhang_specific_1999} and neuronal hyperexcitability has been demonstrated in these mice \citep{smart_deletion_1998, brew_hyperexcitability_2003}. However, the lack of ataxia in \Kv null mice raises the question if the hyperexcitability seen is representative of the effects of EA1 associated \Kv mutations. -Using a diverse set of conductance-based neuronal models we examine the role of current environment on the impact of alterations in channels properties on firing behavior generally and for EA1 associated \Kv mutations. +%Using a diverse set of conductance-based neuronal models we examine the role of current environment on the impact of alterations in channels properties on firing behavior generally and for EA1 associated \Kv mutations. \par\null