Journal
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
Volume 7, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
FRONTIERS MEDIA SA
DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2013.00237
Keywords
anticonvulsant; ATP; epilepsy; hippocampus; interleukin-1 beta; microglia; neuroprotection
Categories
Funding
- Health Research Board Ireland [HRA_POR/2012/56, HRA_POR/2010/123]
- Ministry of Science and Innovation [BFU2011-24743, BFU2012-31195]
- Spanish Ion Channel Initiative [CSD2008-00005]
- Marcelino Botin Foundation
- Health Research Board (HRB) [HRA-POR-2010-123] Funding Source: Health Research Board (HRB)
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Prolonged seizures are amongst the most common neurological emergencies. Status epilepticus is a state of continuous seizures that is life-threatening and prompt termination of status epilepticus is critical to protect the brain from permanent damage. Frontline treatment comprises parenteral administration of anticonvulsants such as lorazepam that facilitate gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) transmission. Because status epilepticus can become refractory to anticonvulsants in a significant proportion of patients, drugs which act on different neurotransmitter systems may represent potential adjunctive treatments. P2X receptors are a class of ligand-gated ion channel activated by ATP that contributes to neuro-and glio-transmission. P2X receptors are expressed by both neurons and glia in various brain regions, including the hippocampus. Electrophysiology, pharmacology and genetic studies suggest certain P2X receptors are activated during pathologic brain activity. Expression of several members of the family including P2X(2), P2X(4), and P2X(7) receptors has been reported to be altered in the hippocampus following status epilepticus. Recent studies have shown that ligands of the P2X(7) receptor can have potent effects on seizure severity during status epilepticus and mice lacking this receptor display altered seizures in response to chemoconvulsants. Antagonists of the P2X(7) receptor also modulate neuronal death, microglial responses and neuroinflammatory signaling. Recent work also found altered neuronal injury and inflammation after status epilepticus in mice lacking the P2X(4) receptor. In summary, members of the P2X receptor family may serve important roles in the pathophysiology of status epilepticus and represent novel targets for seizure control and neuroprotection.
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