Dysfunction of hippocampal interneurons in epilepsy

Gamma-amino-butyric acid（GABA）-containing interneurons are crucial to both development and function of the brain. Down-regulation of GABAergic inhibition may result in the generation of epileptiform activity. Loss, axonal sprouting, and dysfunction of interneurons are regarded as mechanisms involved in epileptogenesis. Recent evidence suggests that network connectivity and the properties of interneurons are responsible for excitatory-inhibitory neuronal circuits. The balance between excitation and inhibition in CA1 neuronal circuitry is considerably altered during epileptic changes. This review discusses interneuron diversity, the causes of interneuron dysfunction in epilepsy, and the possibility of using GABAergic neuronal progenitors for the treatment of epilepsy.

Complement C3 Aggravates Post-epileptic Neuronal Injury Via Activation of TRPV1

Epilepsy is a brain condition characterized by the recurrence of unprovoked seizures.Recent studies have shown that complement component 3(C3)aggravate the neuronal injury in epilepsy.And our previous studies revealed that TRPV1(transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1)is involved in epilepsy.Whether complement C3 regulation of neuronal injury is related to the activation of TRPV1 during epilepsy is not fully understood.We found that in a mouse model of status epilepticus(SE),complement C3 derived from astrocytes was increased and aggravated neuronal injury,and that TRPV 1-knockout rescued neurons from the injury induced by complement C3.Circular RNAs are abundant in the brain,and the reduction of circRad52 caused by complement C3 promoted the expression of TRPV 1 and exacerbated neuronal injury.Mechanistically,disorders of neuron-glia interaction mediated by the C3-TRPV1 signaling pathway may be important for the induction of neuronal injury.This study provides support for the hypothesis that the C3-TRFV1 pathway is involved in the prevention and treatment of neuronal injury and cognitive disorders.

IL-1β: an important cytokine associated with febrile seizures?

Febrile seizures （FSs） are the most common convulsions in childhood. Studies have demonstrated a significant relationship between a history of prolonged FSs during early childhood and temporal sclerosis, which is responsible for intractable mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. It has been shown that interleukin-1β （IL-1β） is intrinsically involved in the febrile response in children and in the generation of FSs. We summarize the gene polymorphisms, changes of IL-1β levels and the putative role of IL-1β in the generation of FSs. IL-1β could play a role either in enhancing or in reducing neural excitability. If the enhancing and reducing effects are balanced, an FS does not occur. When the enhancing effect plays the leading role, an FS is generated. A mild imbalance can cause simple FSs while a severe imbalance can cause complex FSs and febrile status epilepticus. Therefore, anti-IL-1β therapy may help to treat FSs.