Glial cells as primary therapeutic targets for epilepsy

Abstract

Neurons have been the natural focus of discussion for most of the history of research on seizures and epilepsy. Simply stated, epilepsy is a disease of sporadic, progressive disruption of neuronal activity. Thus causes and therapies for epilepsy have been naturally aimed at the obvious manifestation of disease: neuronal dysfunction. However, over the last two decades a new view is beginning to emerge that is defining the dependence of neuronal function and seizure susceptibility on glia. This view changes the definition of epilepsy as a disease of neurons to a disease of a heterogeneous neuronal-glial network. This new glial focus is suggesting new opportunities to treat the nearly 1/3 of individuals who do not respond to traditional antiepileptic drug (AEDs) therapies as well as suggesting ways to reduce the many unwanted side effects of AEDs.