• Scientists identify novel approach to pr

    From ScienceDaily@1:317/3 to All on Thursday, April 14, 2022 22:30:46
    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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