New insight on the mechanisms of epileptogenesis in the developing brain

The incidence of epilepsy is at its highest in childhood and seizures can persist for a lifetime. As brain tissue from pediatric patients with epilepsy is rarely available, the analysis of molecular and cellular changes during epileptogenesis, which could serve as targets for treatment approaches, has to rely largely on the analysis of tissue from animal models. However, these data have to be analyzed in the context of the developmental stage when the insult occurs. Here we review the current status of the available animal models, the molecular analysis done in these models, as well as treatment attempts to prevent epileptogenesis in the immature brain. Considering that epilepsy is one of the major childhood neurological diseases, it is remarkable how little is known on epileptogenesis in the immature brain at a molecular level. It is a true challenge for the future to expand the armamentarium of clinically relevant animal models, and systematic analysis of molecular and cellular data to enhance the probability of developing syndrome specific antiepileptogenic treatments and biomarkers for acquired pediatric epileptogenesis.