Rare dysfunctional SCN2A variants are associated with malformation of cortical development

SCN2A encodes the voltage-gated sodium (Na+) channel α subunit Na_V1.2, which is important for the generation and forward and back propagation of action potentials in neurons. Genetic variants in SCN2A are associated with a spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders. However, the mechanisms whereby variation in SCN2A leads to disease remains incompletely understood, and the full spectrum of SCN2A-related disorders may not be fully delineated.

Here, we identified seven de novo heterozygous variants in SCN2A in eight individuals with developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE) accompanied by prominent malformation of cortical development (MCD). We characterized the electrophysiological properties of Na + currents in human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells transfected with the adult (A) or neonatal (N) isoform of wild-type (WT) and variant Na_V1.2 using manual and automated whole-cell voltage clamp recording.

The neonatal isoforms of all SCN2A variants studied exhibit gain of function (GoF) with a large depolarized shift in steady-state inactivation, creating a markedly enhanced window current common across all four variants tested. Computational modeling demonstrated that expression of the Na_V1.2-p.Met1770Leu-N variant in a developing neocortical pyramidal neuron results in hyperexcitability.

These results support expansion of the clinical spectrum of SCN2A-related disorders and the association of genetic variation in SCN2A with MCD, which suggests previously undescribed roles for SCN2A in fetal brain development.