The Role of Glial Cells in Epilepsy and Possible Anti-Epileptic Drug Designs

Abstract

Epilepsy, affecting about 1% of the population, comprises a group of disorders of brains characterized by periodic and unpredictable occurrence of seizures. Seizures are medically intractable in about 30% of patients suffering from epilepsy, they have no response to anti-epileptic drugs (AED) which are currently being used in clinical field. Decades of efforts of scientists has demonstrated glial cells' very crucial role in neuron network. They not only serve to maintain homeostasis, but also interfere communication and general regulation. As the consequence, glial cells also go through damage and lesion during seizures and epilepsy, which further exacerbate pathological condition. This hypothesis can account for lots of AED refractory cases because most of AEDs target only neurons' lesion. In a number of experiments, scientists have demonstrated this hypothesis by finding various striking lesion in glial cells before; during; after epilepsy. Blocking water channels and potassium channels over-expressed by astrocytes; blocking gap junction to decrease diffusion in glial networks; locating these lesion of glial cells and then neutralize the dysfunction are very promising ideas of designing drugs alleviating epilepsy. This paper introduces basic characters of glial cells, putting emphasis on their abnormalities within epileptic brains, corresponding therapy will be discussed.