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Astrocytes and Epilepsy

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Abstract

Changes in astrocyte channels, transporters, and metabolism play a critical role in seizure generation and epilepsy. In particular, alterations in astrocyte potassium, glutamate, water and adenosine homeostasis and gap junctional coupling have all been associated with hyperexcitability and epileptogenesis (largely in temporal lobe epilepsy). Distinct astrocytic changes have also been identified in other types of epilepsy, such as tuberous sclerosis, tumor-associated epilepsy and post-traumatic epilepsy. Together, the emerging literature on astrocytes and epilepsy provides powerful rationale for distinct new therapeutic targets that are astrocyte-specific.

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Fig. 1

Reproduced with permission from: Benarroch E. 2007. Aquaporin-4, homeostasis, and neurologic disease. Neurology 69:2266–2268 (Fig. 1)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Glial-Neuronal Interactions, Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA

    Devin K. Binder

  2. Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany

    Christian Steinhäuser

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  1. Devin K. Binder
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  2. Christian Steinhäuser
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Correspondence to Devin K. Binder.

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Special Issue: In Honor of Prof Vladimir Parpura.

Invited chapter for special issue of Neurochemical Research titled “Astroglia in healthy and diseased brain” honoring Dr. Vladimir Parpura.

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Binder, D.K., Steinhäuser, C. Astrocytes and Epilepsy. Neurochem Res 46, 2687–2695 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-021-03236-x

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