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@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ $^{3}$Department of Neurology and Epileptology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Br
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Clinically relevant mutations to voltage-gated ion channels, called channelopathies, alter ion channel function, properties of ionic current and neuronal firing. The effects of ion channel mutations are routinely assessed and characterized as loss of function (LOF) or gain of function (GOF) at the level of ionic currents. Emerging personalized medicine approaches based on LOF/GOF characterization have limited therapeutic success. Potential reasons are that the translation from this binary characterization to neuronal firing especially when considering different neuronal cell types is currently not well understood. Here we investigate the impact of neuronal cell type on the firing outcome of ion channel mutations with simulations of a diverse collection of neuron models. We systematically analyzed the effects of changes in ion current properties on firing in different neuronal types. Additionally, we simulated the effects of mutations in the \textit{KCNA1} gene encoding the \Kv potassium channel subtype associated with episodic ataxia type~1 (EA1). These simulations revealed that the outcome of a given change in ion channel properties on neuronal excitability is neuron-type dependent. Consequently, neuron-type specific effects are vital to a full understanding of the effects of channelopathies on neuronal excitability and are an important step towards improving the efficacy and precision of personalized medicine approaches.
Clinically relevant mutations to voltage-gated ion channels, called channelopathies, alter ion channel function, properties of ionic currents and neuronal firing. The effects of ion channel mutations are routinely assessed and characterized as loss of function (LOF) or gain of function (GOF) at the level of ionic currents. However, emerging personalized medicine approaches based on LOF/GOF characterization have limited therapeutic success. Potential reasons are among others that the translation from this binary characterization to neuronal firing is currently not well understood --- especially when considering different neuronal cell types. Here we investigate the impact of neuronal cell type on the firing outcome of ion channel mutations with simulations of a diverse collection of conductance-based neuron models. We systematically analyzed the effects of changes in ion current properties on firing in different neuronal types. Additionally, we simulated the effects of known mutations in the \textit{KCNA1} gene encoding the \Kv potassium channel subtype associated with episodic ataxia type~1 (EA1). These simulations revealed that the outcome of a given change in ion channel properties on neuronal excitability is depends on neuron type, i.e. the properties and expression levels of the unaffected ionic currents. Consequently, neuron-type specific effects are vital to a full understanding of the effects of channelopathies on neuronal excitability and are an important step towards improving the efficacy and precision of personalized medicine approaches.
% present an opportunity to further the efficacy and precision of personalized medicine approaches.
@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ Clinically relevant mutations to voltage-gated ion channels, called channelopat
The properties and combinations of voltage-gated ion channels are vital in determining neuronal excitability \citep{bernard_channelopathies_2008, carbone_ion_2020, rutecki_neuronal_1992, pospischil_minimal_2008}. However, ion channel function can be disturbed, for instance through genetic alterations, resulting in altered neuronal firing behavior \citep{carbone_ion_2020}. In recent years, next generation sequencing has led to an increase in the discovery of clinically relevant ion channel mutations and has provided the basis for pathophysiological studies of genetic epilepsies, pain disorders, dyskinesias, intellectual disabilities, myotonias, and periodic paralyses \citep{bernard_channelopathies_2008, carbone_ion_2020}.
Ongoing efforts of many research groups have contributed to the current understanding of underlying disease mechanism in channelopathies, however a complex pathophysiological landscape has emerged for many channelopathies and is likely a reason for limited therapeutic success with standard care.
Ion channel variants are frequently classified in heterologous expression systems as either a loss of function (LOF) or a gain of function (GOF) in the respective ionic current \citep{Musto2020, Kullmann2002, Waxman2011, Kim2021}. This LOF/GOF classification is often directly used to predict the effects on neuronal firing \citep{Niday2018, Wei2017, Wolff2017,Masnada2017}, which in turn is important for understanding the pathophysiology of these disorders and for identification of potential therapeutic targets \citep{Orsini2018, Yang2018, Colasante2020, Yu2006}. Experimentally, the effects of channelopathies on neuronal firing are assessed using primary neuronal cultures \citep{Scalmani2006, Smith2018, Liu2019} or \textit{in vitro} recordings from slices of transgenic mouse lines \citep{Mantegazza2019, Xie2010,Lory2020, Habib2015, Hedrich14874} but are restricted to limited number of neuronal types. Different neuron types differ in their composition of ionic currents \citep{yao2021taxonomy, Cadwell2016, BICCN2021, Scala2021} and therefore likely respond differently to changes in the properties of a single ionic current. Expression level of an affected gene \citep{Layer2021} and relative amplitudes of ionic currents \citep{rutecki_neuronal_1992, pospischil_minimal_2008,Kispersky2012, golowasch_failure_2002, barreiro_-current_2012} indeed dramatically influence the firing behavior and dynamics of neurons. Mutations in different sodium channel genes have been experimentally shown to affect firing in a neuron-type specific manner based on differences in expression levels of the affected gene \citep{Layer2021}, but also on other neuron-type specific mechanisms \citep{Hedrich14874, makinson_scn1a_2016}.
Ion channel variants are frequently classified in heterologous expression systems as either a loss of function (LOF) or a gain of function (GOF) in the respective ionic current \citep{Musto2020, Kullmann2002, Waxman2011, Kim2021}. This LOF/GOF classification is often directly used to predict the effects on neuronal firing \citep{Niday2018, Wei2017, Wolff2017,Masnada2017}, which in turn is important for understanding the pathophysiology of these disorders and for identification of potential therapeutic targets \citep{Orsini2018, Yang2018, Colasante2020, Yu2006}. Experimentally, the effects of channelopathies on neuronal firing are assessed using primary neuronal cultures \citep{Scalmani2006, Smith2018, Liu2019} or \textit{in vitro} recordings from slices of transgenic mouse lines \citep{Mantegazza2019, Xie2010,Lory2020, Habib2015, Hedrich14874}, but are restricted to limited number of different neuron types. Neuron types differ in many aspects. They may differ in their composition of ionic currents \citep{yao2021taxonomy, Cadwell2016, BICCN2021, Scala2021} and therefore likely respond differently to changes in the properties of a single ionic current. Expression level of an affected gene \citep{Layer2021} and relative amplitudes of ionic currents \citep{rutecki_neuronal_1992, pospischil_minimal_2008,Kispersky2012, golowasch_failure_2002, barreiro_-current_2012} indeed dramatically influence the firing behavior and dynamics of neurons. Mutations in different sodium channel genes have been experimentally shown to affect firing in a neuron-type specific manner based on differences in expression levels of the affected gene \citep{Layer2021}, but also on other neuron-type specific mechanisms \citep{Hedrich14874, makinson_scn1a_2016}.
Neuron-type specificity is likely vital for successful precision medicine treatment approaches. For example, Dravet syndrome was identified as the consquence of LOF mutations in \textit{SCN1A} \citep{Claes2001,Fujiwara2003,Ohmori2002}, however limited success in the treatment of Dravet syndrome persisted \citep{Claes2001,Oguni2001} in part due to lack of understanding that inhibitory interneurons and not pyramidal neurons had altered excitability as a result of LOF \textit{SCN1A} mutations \citep{Yu2006, Colasante2020}.
@ -238,9 +238,9 @@ Changes in delayed rectifier potassium currents, analogous to those seen in LOF
In our simulations, different current properties alter the impact of \textit{KCNA1} mutations on firing as evident in the differences seen in the impact of \(\text{I}_\text{A}\) and \IKv in the Cb stellate and STN model families on \textit{KCNA1} mutation firing. This highlights that not only knowledge of the biophysical properties of a channel but also its neuronal expression and other neuronal channels present is vital for the holistic understanding of the effects of a given ion channel mutation both at the single cell and network level.
\subsection{Loss or Gain of Function Characterizations Do Not Fully Capture Ion Channel Mutation Effects on Firing}
The effects of changes in channel properties depend in part on the neuronal model in which they occur and can be seen in the variance of correlations (especially in AUC of the fI-curve) across models for a given current property change. Therefore, relative conductances and gating properties of currents in the ionic current environment in which an alteration in current properties occurs plays an important role in determining the outcome on firing. The use of LOF and GOF is useful at the level of ion channels to indicate whether a mutation results in more or less ionic current. However, the extension of this thinking onto whether mutations induce LOF or GOF at the level of neuronal firing based on the ionic current LOF/GOF is problematic due to the dependency of neuronal firing changes on the ionic channel environment. Thus, the direct leap from current level LOF/GOF characterizations to effects on firing without experimental or modelling-based evidence, although tempting, should be refrained from and viewed with caution when reported. This is especially relevant in the recent development of personalized medicine for channelopathies, where a patient's specific channelopathy is identified and used to tailor treatments \citep{Weber2017, Ackerman2013, Helbig2020, Gnecchi2021, Musto2020, Brunklaus2022, Hedrich2021}. However, in these cases the effects of specific ion channel mutations are often characterized based on ionic currents in expression systems and classified as LOF or GOF to aid in treatment decisions \citep{johannesen_genotype-phenotype_2021, Brunklaus2022, Musto2020}. Although positive treatment outcomes occur with sodium channel blockers in patients with GOF \(\text{Na}_{\text{V}}\text{1.6}\) mutations, patients with both LOF and GOF \(\text{Na}_{\text{V}}\text{1.6}\) mutations can benefit from treatment with sodium channel blockers \citep{johannesen_genotype-phenotype_2021}. This example suggests that the relationship between effects at the level of ion channels and effects at the level of firing and therapeutics is not linear or evident without further contextual information.
The effects of changes in channel properties depend in part on the neuronal model in which they occur and can be seen in the variance of correlations (especially in AUC of the fI-curve) across models for a given current property change. Therefore, relative conductances and gating properties of currents in the ionic current environment in which an alteration in current properties occurs plays an important role in determining the outcome on firing. The use of LOF and GOF is useful at the level of ion channels to indicate whether a mutation results in more or less ionic current. However, the extension of this thinking onto whether mutations induce LOF or GOF at the level of neuronal firing based on the ionic current LOF/GOF is problematic because of this dependency of neuronal firing changes on the ionic channel environment. Thus, the direct leap from current level LOF/GOF characterizations to effects on firing without experimental or modelling-based evidence, although tempting, should be refrained from and viewed with caution when reported. This is especially relevant in the recent development of personalized medicine for channelopathies, where a patient's specific channelopathy is identified and used to tailor treatments \citep{Weber2017, Ackerman2013, Helbig2020, Gnecchi2021, Musto2020, Brunklaus2022, Hedrich2021}. In these cases the effects of specific ion channel mutations are often characterized based on ionic currents in expression systems and classified as LOF or GOF to aid in treatment decisions \citep{johannesen_genotype-phenotype_2021, Brunklaus2022, Musto2020}. Although positive treatment outcomes occur with sodium channel blockers in patients with GOF \(\text{Na}_{\text{V}}\text{1.6}\) mutations, patients with both LOF and GOF \(\text{Na}_{\text{V}}\text{1.6}\) mutations can benefit from treatment with sodium channel blockers \citep{johannesen_genotype-phenotype_2021}. This example suggests that the relationship between effects at the level of ion channels and effects at the level of firing and therapeutics is not linear or evident without further contextual information.
Therefore, the transferring of LOF or GOF from the current to the firing level should be used with caution; the neuron type in which the mutant ion channel is expressed may provide valuable insight into the functional consequences of an ion channel mutation. Experimental assessment of the effects of a patient's specific ion channel mutation \textit{in vivo} is not generally feasible at a large scale. Therefore, modelling approaches investigating the effects of patient specific channelopathies provide an alternative bridge between characterization of changes in biophysical properties of ionic currents and the firing consequences of these effects. In both experimental and modelling investigation into the effects of ion channel mutations on neuronal firing the specific neuron-type dependency should be considered.
Therefore, the transfer of LOF or GOF from the current to the firing level should be used with caution; the neuron type in which the mutant ion channel is expressed may provide valuable insight into the functional consequences of an ion channel mutation. Experimental assessment of the effects of a patient's specific ion channel mutation \textit{in vivo} is not generally feasible at a large scale. Therefore, modelling approaches investigating the effects of patient specific channelopathies provide a viable method bridging between characterization of changes in biophysical properties of ionic currents and the firing consequences of these effects. In both experimental and modelling studies on the effects of ion channel mutations on neuronal firing the specific dependency on neuron type should be considered.
The effects of altered ion channel properties on firing is generally influenced by the other ionic currents present in the neuron. In channelopathies the effect of a given ion channel mutation on neuronal firing therefore depends on the neuron type in which those changes occur \citep{Hedrich14874, makinson_scn1a_2016, Waxman2007, Rush2006}. Although certain complexities of neurons such as differences in neuron-type sensitivities to current property changes, interactions between ionic currents, cell morphology and subcellular ion channel distribution are neglected here, it is likely that this increased complexity \textit{in vivo} would contribute to the neuron-type dependent effects on neuronal firing. The complexity and nuances of the nervous system, including neuron-type dependent firing effects of channelopathies explored here, likely underlie shortcomings in treatment approaches in patients with channelopathies. Accounting for neuron-type dependent firing effects provides an opportunity to improve the efficacy and precision in personalized medicine approaches.