Inhibition of Aquaporin 4 by antiepileptic drugs

The potential of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) to inhibit the water transport properties of Aquaporin 4 (AQP4) was investigated using a combination of in silico and in vitro screening methods. Virtual docking studies on 14 AEDs indicated a range of docking energies that spanned approximately 40 kcal/mol, where the most stabilized energies were consistent with that of the previously identified AQP4 inhibitor acetazolamide. Nine AEDs and one bio-active metabolite were further investigated in a functional assay using AQP4 expressing Xenopus oocytes. Seven of the assayed compounds were found to inhibit AQP4 function, while three did not. A linear correlation was indicated between the in silico docking energies and the in vitro AQP4 inhibitory activity at 20 μM.

Several clinically approved antiepileptic drugs, such as phenytoin, lamotrigine, and topiramate, were found to inhibit the water transport properties of Aquaporin 4 in an in vitro functional assay.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide