TY - JOUR
T1 - Modulation of neuronal excitability by immune mediators in epilepsy
AU - Iori, Valentina
AU - Frigerio, Federica
AU - Vezzani, Annamaria
PY - 2016/2/1
Y1 - 2016/2/1
N2 - A complex set of inflammatory molecules and their receptors has been described in epileptogenic foci in different forms of pharmacoresistant epilepsies. By activating receptor-mediated pathways in neurons, these molecules have profound neuromodulatory effects that are distinct from their canonical activation of immune functions. Importantly, the neuromodulatory actions of some inflammatory molecules contribute to hyperexcitability in neural networks that underlie seizures. This review summarizes recent findings related to the role of cytokines (IL-1beta and TNF-alpha) and danger signals (HMGB1) in decreasing seizure threshold, thereby contributing to seizure generation and the associated neuropathology. We will discuss preclinical studies suggesting that pharmacological inhibition of specific inflammatory signals may be useful to treat drug-resistant seizures in human epilepsy, and possibly arrest epileptogenesis in individuals at risk of developing the disease.
AB - A complex set of inflammatory molecules and their receptors has been described in epileptogenic foci in different forms of pharmacoresistant epilepsies. By activating receptor-mediated pathways in neurons, these molecules have profound neuromodulatory effects that are distinct from their canonical activation of immune functions. Importantly, the neuromodulatory actions of some inflammatory molecules contribute to hyperexcitability in neural networks that underlie seizures. This review summarizes recent findings related to the role of cytokines (IL-1beta and TNF-alpha) and danger signals (HMGB1) in decreasing seizure threshold, thereby contributing to seizure generation and the associated neuropathology. We will discuss preclinical studies suggesting that pharmacological inhibition of specific inflammatory signals may be useful to treat drug-resistant seizures in human epilepsy, and possibly arrest epileptogenesis in individuals at risk of developing the disease.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84948672272&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84948672272&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.coph.2015.11.002
DO - 10.1016/j.coph.2015.11.002
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84948672272
VL - 26
SP - 118
EP - 123
JO - Current Opinion in Pharmacology
JF - Current Opinion in Pharmacology
SN - 1471-4892
ER -