Variant-specific in vitro neuronal network phenotypes and drug sensitivity in SCN2A developmental and epileptic encephalopathy

De novo variants in the Na(V)1.2 voltage-gated sodium channel gene SCN2A are among the major causes of developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEE). Based on their biophysical impact on channel conductance and gating, SCN2A DEE variants can be classified into gain-of-function (GoF) or loss-of-function (LoF). Clinical and functional data have linked early seizure onset DEE to the GoF SCN2A variants, whereas late seizure onset DEE is associated with the loss of SCN2A function. This study aims to assess the impact of GoF and LoF SCN2A variants on cultured neuronal network activity and explore their modulation by selected antiseizure medications (ASM). To this end, primary cortical cultures were generated from two knock-in mouse lines carrying variants corresponding to human GoF SCN2A p.R1882Q and LoF p.R853Q DEE variant. In vitro neuronal network activity and responses to ASM were analyzed using multielectrode array (MEA) between 2 and 4 weeks in culture. The SCN2A p.R1882Q neuronal cultures showed significantly greater mean firing and burst firing. Their network synchronicity was also higher. In contrast, the SCN2A p.R853Q cultures showed lower mean firing rate, and burst firing events were less frequent. The network synchronicity was also lower. Phenytoin and levetiracetam reduced the excitability of GoF cultures, while retigabine showed differential and potentially beneficial effects on cultures with both GoF and LoF variants. We conclude that in vitro neuronal networks harboring SCN2A GoF or LoF DEE variants present with distinctive phenotypes and responses to ASM.