Differential roles of NaV1.2 and NaV1.6 in regulating neuronal excitability at febrile temperature and distinct contributions to febrile seizures

Abstract Dysregulation of voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) is associated with multiple clinical disorders, including febrile seizures (FS). The contribution of different sodium channel subtypes to environmentally triggered seizures is not well understood. Here we demonstrate that somatic and axonal sodium channels primarily mediated through Na V 1.2 and Na V 1.6 subtypes, respectively, behave differentially at FT, and might play distinct roles in FS generation. In contrast to sodium channels on the main axonal trunk, somatic ones are more resistant to inactivation and display significantly augmented currents, faster gating rates and kinetics of recovery from inactivation at FT, features that promote neuronal excitabilities. Pharmacological inhibition of Na V 1.2 by Phrixotoxin-3 (PTx3) suppressed FT-induced neuronal hyperexcitability in brain slice, while up-regulation of Na V 1.2 as in Na V 1.6 knockout mice showed an opposite effect. Consistently, Na V 1.6 knockout mice were more susceptible to FS, exhibiting much lower temperature threshold and shorter onset latency than wildtype mice. Neuron modeling further suggests that Na V 1.2 is the major subtype mediating FT-induced neuronal hyperexcitability, and predicts potential outcomes of alterations in sodium channel subtype composition. Together, these data reveal a role of native Na V 1.2 on neuronal excitability at FT and its important contribution to FS pathogenesis.