Role of Inflammatory Mediators in the Pathogenesis of Epilepsy

Abstract

Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic brain disorders worldwide, affecting 1% of people across different ages and backgrounds. Epilepsy is defined as the sporadic occurrence of spontaneous recurrent seizures. Accumulating preclinical and clinical evidence suggest that there is a positive feedback cycle between epileptogenesis and brain inflammation. Epileptic seizures increase key inflammatory mediators, which in turn cause secondary damage to the brain and increase the likelihood of recurrent seizures. Cytokines and prostaglandins are well-known inflammatory mediators in the brain, and their biosynthesis is enhanced following seizures. Such inflammatory mediators could be therapeutic targets for the development of new antiepileptic drugs. In this review, we discuss the roles of inflammatory mediators in epileptogenesis.

Evaluation of immunomodulatory effects of lamotrigine in BALB/c mice

“…On the other hand, more importantly, there is an increasing body of evidence for the potential involvement of the immunomodulatory characteristics of antiepileptic drugs in their therapeutic benefits in the treatment of epilepsy. It has recently been shown that modulation of the immune system and inflammation are implicated in the pathogenesis of epilepsy (5). This partially involves alteration in cytokine secretion, in particular, increased pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-a production (6)(7)(8).…”

Landau-Kleffners syndrom

“…Effekt av steroider er følgelig ikke ensbetydende med en autoimmun genese (7). Den variable effekten av steroider hos disse barna kan tyde på at det kan vaere flere tilgrunnliggende årsaker til den epileptiforme aktiviteten.…”

Ketogenic food pyramid for patients with refractory epilepsy: From theory to clinical practice

“…Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures and is often accompanied by cognitive and neuropsychomotor deficits 1 . It is estimated that 20% to 30% of pediatric patients have epilepsy refractory to pharmacological treatment 2 …”