Anti-epileptic drug topiramate upregulates TGFβ1 and SOX9 expression in primary embryonic palatal mesenchyme cells: Implications for teratogenicity

Topiramate is an anti-epileptic drug that is commonly prescribed not just to prevent seizures but also migraine headaches, with over 8 million prescriptions dispensed annually. Topiramate use during pregnancy has been linked to significantly increased risk of babies born with orofacial clefts (OFCs). However, the exact molecular mechanism of topiramate teratogenicity is unknown. In this study, we first used an unbiased antibody array analysis to test the effect of topiramate on human embryonic palatal mesenchyme (HEPM) cells. This analysis identified 40 differentially expressed proteins, showing strong connectivity to known genes associated with orofacial clefts. However, among known OFC genes, only TGF beta 1 was significantly upregulated in the antibody array analysis. Next, we validated that topiramate could increase expression of TGF beta 1 and of downstream target phospho-SMAD2 in primary mouse embryonic palatal mesenchyme (MEPM) cells. Furthermore, we showed that topiramate treatment of primary MEPM cells increased expression of SOX9. SOX9 overexpression in chondrocytes is known to cause cleft palate in mouse. We propose that topiramate mediates upregulation of TGF beta 1 signaling through activation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in the palate. TGF beta 1 and SOX9 play critical roles in orofacial morphogenesis, and their abnormal overexpression provides a plausible etiologic molecular mechanism for the teratogenic effects of topiramate.

Automated summary

Topiramate use during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of babies born with orofacial clefts, potentially due to the abnormal overexpression of TGF beta 1 and SOX9 genes, which play critical roles in orofacial morphogenesis.