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Emerging Roles for Microglial Phagocytic Signaling in Epilepsy

Season K Wyatt-Johnson1, Amy L Brewster1

  • 1Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.

Epilepsy Currents
|December 4, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Microglia phagocytic activity in epilepsy is linked to neuronal damage and seizures. Targeting microglial phagocytosis signaling could offer new epilepsy treatments beyond anti-inflammatory approaches.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Microglia are the central nervous system's immune cells and phagocytes.
  • Their role in epilepsy pathophysiology, particularly phagocytic signaling, is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and discuss the implications of recent evidence on microglia phagocytic activity in epilepsy.
  • To explore the link between phagocytosis signaling and epilepsy-related neuropathology.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing scientific literature and preclinical epilepsy models.
  • Analysis of microglia-neuronal interactions, synaptic loss, and seizure activity.

Main Results:

  • Aberrant microglia phagocytic activity and altered signaling molecules are associated with epilepsy.
  • These changes correlate with microglia-neuronal contacts, neuronal/synaptic loss, and seizures.
  • Microglial involvement in epilepsy extends beyond inflammation.

Conclusions:

  • Microglia's phagocytic signaling plays a significant role in epilepsy.
  • Phagocytic signaling molecules represent potential novel therapeutic targets for epilepsy treatment.
Keywords:
inflammationmicroglianeuronal lossphagocytosisrecurrent seizuressynaptic pruning

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