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Brain inflammation as a biomarker in epilepsy
Annamaria Vezzani1, Alon Friedman
1Department of Neuroscience, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Via G. La Masa 19, 20156 Milano, Italy . annamaria.vezzani@marionegri.it
Biomarkers in Medicine
|October 19, 2011
Summary
Brain inflammation plays a key role in epilepsy development and seizure activity. Targeting these inflammatory pathways could offer new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for epilepsy.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Pathology
Background:
- Chronic epileptic brains show increased inflammatory mediators and receptor upregulation.
- Proinflammatory pathways are activated in seizure foci, contributing to epilepsy.
- Brain inflammation is implicated in epileptogenesis following brain injury.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish the role of brain inflammation in the etiopathogenesis and development of epilepsy.
- To explore the potential of brain inflammation as a biomarker for epilepsy diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy.
Main Methods:
- Review of experimental and clinical evidence on inflammatory mediators and receptors in epilepsy.
- Analysis of studies involving pharmacological inhibition of inflammatory signaling in experimental seizures.
- Examination of transgenic mouse models with altered inflammatory pathways.
Main Results:
- Pharmacological interference with proinflammatory signaling inhibits experimental seizures.
- Perturbed inflammatory pathways in mice alter seizure susceptibility.
- Brain inflammation is integral to neuronal hyperexcitability, seizure onset, and recurrence.
Conclusions:
- Brain inflammation is a critical factor in epilepsy, not just a symptom.
- Inflammatory processes are involved in the mechanisms underlying seizures.
- Brain inflammation may serve as a biomarker for epilepsy severity and progression, pending noninvasive detection methods.
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