A Combined Ligand- and Structure-Based Virtual Screening To Identify Novel NaV1.2 Blockers: In Vitro Patch Clamp Validation and In Vivo Anticonvulsant Activity

Epilepsy
is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent
seizures that arise from abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
Voltage-gated sodium channels (NaVs), responsible for the initiation
and propagation of action potentials in neurons, play a critical role
in the pathogenesis of epilepsy. This study sought to discover potential
anticonvulsant compounds that interact with NaVs, specifically, the
brain subtype hNaV1.2. A ligand-based QSAR model and a docking model
were constructed, validated, and applied in a parallel virtual screening
over the DrugBank database. Montelukast, Novobiocin, and Cinnarizine
were selected for in vitro testing, using the patch-clamp technique,
and all of them proved to inhibit hNaV1.2 channels heterologously
expressed in HEK293 cells. Two hits were evaluated in the GASH/Sal
model of audiogenic seizures and demonstrated promising activity,
reducing the severity of sound-induced seizures at the doses tested.
The combination of ligand- and structure-based models presents a valuable
approach for identifying potential NaV inhibitors. These findings
may provide a basis for further research into the development of new
antiseizure drugs for the treatment of epilepsy.