Metabolism-based drug discovery in zebrafish: An emerging strategy to uncover new anti-seizure therapies

• Published in: Neuropharmacology Vol. 167; p. 107988
• Main Authors: Ibhazehiebo, Kingsley, Rho, Jong M., Kurrasch, Deborah M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2020
• Subjects: Animals; Anticonvulsant; Anticonvulsants - pharmacology; Anticonvulsants - therapeutic use; Antiepileptic drug; Bioenergetics; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Discovery - methods; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical - methods; Energy Metabolism - drug effects; Energy Metabolism - physiology; Epilepsy; Experimental therapeutics; Humans; Ketogenic diet; Metabolism; Mitochondria; Mitochondria - drug effects; Mitochondria - metabolism; Seizures - drug therapy; Seizures - metabolism; Zebrafish; Antiepileptic drug; Experimental therapeutics; Mitochondria; Bioenergetics; Epilepsy; Anticonvulsant; Metabolism; Ketogenic diet
• ISSN: 0028-3908; 1873-7064
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.107988

As one of the most common neurological disorders, epilepsy can occur throughout the lifespan and from a multiplicity of causes, including genetic mutations, inflammation, neurotrauma, or brain malformations. Although pharmacological agents are the mainstay of treatment for seizure control, an unyielding 30–40% of patients remain refractory to these medications and continue to experience spontaneous recurrent seizures with attendant life–long cognitive, behavioural, and mental health issues, as well as an increased risk for sudden unexpected death. Despite over eight decades of antiseizure drug (ASD) discovery and the approval of dozens of new medications, the percentage of this refractory population remains virtually unchanged, suggesting that drugs with new and unexpected mechanisms of action are needed. In this brief review, we discuss the need for new animal models of epilepsy, with a particular focus on the advantages and disadvantages of zebrafish. We also outline the evidence that epilepsy is characterized by derangements in mitochondrial function and introduce the rationale and promise of bioenergetics as a functional readout assay to uncover novel ASDs. We also consider limitations of a zebrafish metabolism-based drug screening approach. Our goal is to discuss the opportunities and challenges of further development of mitochondrial screening strategies for the development of novel ASDs. This article is part of the special issue entitled ‘New Epilepsy Therapies for the 21st Century – From Antiseizure Drugs to Prevention, Modification and Cure of Epilepsy’. •Anti-seizure drugs discovery needs new approaches to uncover therapeutic agents with unexpected mechanisms of action.•Zebrafish are an alternative model organism that has been established over the past 20 years and displays electrophysiological features.•Bioenergetics is disrupted in epilepsy, which can be exploited for phenotypic screening.