Scientists identify novel approach to preventing seizures
Date:
April 14, 2022
Source:
Trinity College Dublin
Summary:
Scientists have announced a significant advance in our understanding
of epilepsy, as they have identified a potential method of
preventing damaging seizure activity. Brain cells are nourished
by an intricate network of capillaries that forms the so-called
blood-brain barrier (BBB). Fundamentally, it is disruption to
the integrity of these capillaries and the BBB that a group
of scientists believe is a key driver of seizure activity in
humans. Promisingly though, their new research shows that restoring
that integrity can prevent seizures.
FULL STORY ========================================================================== Scientists at Trinity College Dublin have announced a significant advance
in our understanding of epilepsy, as they have identified a potential
method of preventing damaging seizure activity.
========================================================================== Epilepsy is a chronic central nervous system (CNS) disorder affecting approximately 1% of the population and 50 million people worldwide. It
is characterised by recurrent, spontaneous seizures caused by disrupted electrical activity in the brain.
While the brain accounts for just 2% of human body mass, it expends
almost 20% of the body's daily energy production. In order to maintain
this high energy demand brain cells are nourished by an intricate network
of capillaries that forms the so-called blood-brain barrier (BBB). Such
is the extent of these capillaries, we estimate that every brain cell
is essentially nourished by its own capillary.
Fundamentally, it is disruption to the integrity of these capillaries and
the BBB that the Trinity scientists believe is a key driver of seizure
activity in humans. Promisingly though, their new research shows that
restoring that integrity can prevent seizures.
"Our findings suggest that designing medicines aimed at stabilising the integrity of blood vessels in the brain may hold promise in treating
patients who are currently non-responsive to anti-seizure medications,"
said Dr Matthew Campbell, Associate Professor in Trinity's School of
Genetics and Microbiology.
"This work represents one of the first conclusive studies that pinpoints
a key feature of seizures that has to date not been studied in great
molecular detail." Importantly, the work was translational in nature
and included both basic and clinical research arms involving patients
diagnosed with epilepsy. Using similar techniques in humans and in
pre-clinical models, the scientists were able to show that BBB disruption
was a key driver of seizure activity.
========================================================================== Added to this, they were able to show that restoring BBB integrity could prevent seizures -- and it is this finding that holds real potential in
moving the discoveries closer to a real and meaningful therapy.
Dr Chris Greene, Postdoctoral research fellow and first author of the
study, added: "We are excited about the potential our findings hold for advancing the field of epilepsy research as well as other neurological conditions. In fact, stabilising the integrity of blood vessels in the
brain could have relevance for a wide range of other diseases and we are
just at the beginning of the process in driving the research forward."
A multidisciplinary team of geneticists, neurologists, neuropathologists
and neurosurgeons from Trinity, RCSI, St James's Hospital, Beaumont
Hospital and Uppsala University were involved in the study. Additionally,
the work formed part of a major collaboration between Trinity and the
Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)-funded centre, FutureNeuro.
Commenting on the clinical significance of the findings, Prof. Colin
Doherty, Professor of Epilepsy in Trinity,said: "This work was the
culmination of many years of collaboration between both clinical and
basic research groups. It simply wouldn't have been possible without
the commitment of patients and their interest in getting involved
in research studies aimed at better understanding their condition."
The research, published this week in the international journal, Nature Communications,was supported by the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) FutureNeuro Centre, the Irish Research Council (IRC), the St James's
Hospital foundation and the Ellen Mayston Bates bequest in the Trinity Foundation.
========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Trinity_College_Dublin. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.
========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Chris Greene, Nicole Hanley, Cristina R. Reschke, Avril Reddy,
Maarja A.
Ma"e, Ruairi Connolly, Claire Behan, Eoin O'Keeffe, Isobel
Bolger, Natalie Hudson, Conor Delaney, Michael A. Farrell,
Donncha F. O'Brien, Jane Cryan, Francesca M. Brett, Alan Beausang,
Christer Betsholtz, David C. Henshall, Colin P. Doherty, Matthew
Campbell. Microvascular stabilization via blood-brain barrier
regulation prevents seizure activity. Nature Communications, 2022;
13 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022- 29657-y ==========================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220414110816.htm
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