Valproate and bone loss: iTRAQ proteomics show that valproate reduces collagens and osteonectin in SMA cells

Valproate is commonly used as an anticonvulsant and mood stabilizer, but its long-term side-effects can include bone loss. As a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, valproate has also been considered for treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Using iTRAQ labeling technology, followed by two-dimensional liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis, a quantitative comparison of the proteome of an SMA cell line, with and without valproate treatment, was performed. The most striking change was a reduction in collagens I and VI, while over 1000 other proteins remained unchanged. The collagen I alpha-chain precursor was also reduced by more than 50% suggesting that valproate affects collagen I synthesis. The collagen-binding glycoprotein, osteonectin (SPARC, BM-40) was one of the few other proteins that were significantly reduced by valproate treatment. Collagen I is the main protein component of bone matrix and osteonectin has a major role in bone development, so the results suggest a possible molecular mechanism for bone loss following long-term exposure to valproate. SMA patients may already suffer bone weakness as a result of SMN1 gene deletion, so further bone loss would be undesirable.