Glial cell changes in epilepsy: overview of the clinical problem and therapeutic opportunities

Abstract

It is estimated that one in 26 people will develop epilepsy in their lifetime, amounting to almost 12 million people in the United States alone (Hesdorffer et al., 2011). Epilepsy is a group of conditions characterized by sporadic occurrence of seizures and unconsciousness. This severely limits the ability to perform everyday tasks and leads to increased difficulty with learning and memory, maintenance of steady employment, driving, and overall socioeconomic integration. A greater understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying seizures and epilepsy is necessary, as it may lead to novel antiepileptic treatments. In this chapter, we will review the current literature surrounding the involvement of glial cells in epilepsy with particular emphasis on review of human tissue studies and some possible underlying mechanisms. Based on the current evidence and hypotheses of glial mechanisms in epilepsy, novel therapeutic opportunities for the treatment of epilepsy will also be presented.

Keywords: Astrocyte; Calcium; Epilepsy; Extracellular space; Glial; Glutamate; Inflammation; Potassium; Seizure; Water.