Transcription factors are potential therapeutic targets in epilepsy

Abstract

Academics generally believe that imbalance between excitation and inhibition of the nervous system is the root cause of epilepsy. However, the aetiology of epilepsy is complex, and its pathogenesis remains unclear. Many studies have shown that epilepsy is closely related to genetic factors. Additionally, the involvement of a variety of tumour-related transcription factors in the pathogenesis of epilepsy has been confirmed, which also confirms the heredity of epilepsy. In this review, we summarize the existing research on a variety of transcription factors and epilepsy and present relevant evidence related to transcription factors that may be targets in epilepsy. This information is of great significance for revealing the in-depth molecular and cellular mechanisms of epilepsy.

Keywords: epilepsy; mechanism; transcription factors.

FIGURE 1

Diagram of the CREB relevant signalling pathways. AC, adenylate cyclase; AKT, protein kinase B; CAM, calmodulin; CAMK: CAM‐dependent protein kinase; cAMP, cyclic adenosine monophosphate; cGMP, cyclic guanosine monophosphate; ERK, extracellular‐regulated kinase; MSK, mitogen and stress‐activated protein kinase; p38MAPK, p38 mitogen activated protein kinases; PI3K, phosphoinositide 3‐kinase; PKA, protein kinase A; PKG, cGMP‐dependent protein kinase 1.

FIGURE 2

Diagram of the NFκB relevant signalling pathways. Bcl‐2, B‐cell lymphoma‐2; COX‐2, cyclooxygenase‐2; IKK, inhibitor of NFκB kinase; IL‐1β, interleukin 1 beta; iNOS, inducible nitric oxide synthase; IκB, inhibitor of NFκB; NFκB, nuclear factor kappa B; TNF‐α, tumourtumor necrosis factor‐α.

FIGURE 3

Diagram of the involvement of KLF4 in regulating the expression of multiple transcription factors. CREB, cAMP response element‐binding protein; IFN, interferon; IL‐1β, Interleukin 1 beta; IL‐6, interleukin 6; JAK, janus kinase; KLF4, Kkruüppel‐like factor 4; NFκB, nuclear factor kappa B; REST, repressor element 1‐silencing transcription; STAT3, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3.