Dravet syndrome (DS) is a severe, catastrophic childhood epilepsy predominantly caused by loss-of-function mutations in the SCN1A gene, which encodes the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.1. In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of 5-(Benzofuran-2-yl)-3-(2-chloro-4-fluorobenzyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2(3H)-one (GM-90663), a novel small molecule designed to address the complex pathophysiology of DS. Using scn1lab knockout (KO) zebrafish larvae—a robust vertebrate model for DS—we demonstrated that GM-90663 significantly alleviates seizure-like behavioral movements and rescues deficit in cognitive-like functions. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in hippocampal slices revealed that GM-90663 modulates voltage-gated Na+ channel kinetics; specifically, it suppresses slow ramp-induced currents, thereby effectively attenuating neuronal hyperexcitability. Furthermore, neurochemical profiling indicated that GM-90663 treatment leads to a marked increase in endogenous serotonin (5-HT) levels in both wild-type and KO larvae. Molecular docking simulations and subsequent in vitro enzymatic assays confirmed that this elevation in serotonin is mediated through the potent inhibition of monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity. Collectively, our findings suggest that GM-90663 exerts its anti-seizure effects through a synergistic dual mechanism—stabilizing sodium channel conductance and elevating serotonergic activity—positioning it as a promising multi-target candidate for the treatment of DS.
Hwang et al. (Fri,) studied this question.