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Vascular Integrity and Signaling Determining Brain Development, Network Excitability, and Epileptogenesis
Jugajyoti Baruah1,2, Anju Vasudevan1,2, Rüdiger Köhling3
1Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.
Frontiers in Physiology
|February 11, 2020
Summary
Epilepsy can be caused by blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, not just neuronal issues. Restoring cerebrovascular integrity offers a new therapeutic approach for epilepsy treatment.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Vascular Biology
- Epileptology
Background:
- Epilepsy's causes are complex, traditionally focusing on neuronal network imbalances.
- Recent research highlights the role of the cerebrovascular system and blood-brain barrier (BBB) in epileptogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the significance of vascular integrity and signaling in epilepsy.
- To explore novel therapeutic strategies targeting vascular mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Review of complementary basic and clinical research studies.
- Analysis of the role of endothelial cells and the BBB in epilepsy.
Main Results:
- Blood-brain barrier disruption is a key factor in epilepsy development across various etiologies.
- Intrinsic endothelial cell defects can autonomously lead to hyperexcitability and epileptiform activity.
- Vascular mechanisms like inflammation and altered blood flow also contribute to epilepsy.
Conclusions:
- Vascular integrity is crucial for maintaining brain homeostasis and preventing epilepsy.
- Therapeutic strategies aimed at BBB repair and restoring cerebrovascular integrity show promise for epilepsy treatment.
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