SUNY Downstate Research Suggests that a Novel Inhibitory Brain Receptor Is a Mechanism for Remission of Epilepsy in Adolescence
Aug 26, 2016
Findings May Lead to New Therapies for Childhood Epilepsy
Brooklyn, NY – More than half of children with epilepsy outgrow their seizures, yet the mechanism underlying this remission is unknown.
Now, research led by SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University shows that, at the onset of puberty, the emergence of a novel inhibitory brain receptor, α4βδ (alpha four beta delta), reduces seizure-like activity in a mouse model of epilepsy. SUNY Downstate’s Professor of Physiology and Pharmacology Sheryl Smith, PhD, and Distinguished Professor of Neurology, Physiology, and Pharmacology Lisa Merlin, MD, are co-authors of the article detailing the research.
Dr. Smith explained, “Seizure-like discharges were three to four-fold greater before puberty and in pubertal mice that lack expression of this receptor. Administration of drugs that selectively enhance inhibition mediated by this receptor further decreased seizure-like activity in this model.”
Dr. Smith concludes, “These findings suggest a mechanism for remission of epilepsy in adolescence and also suggest potential new therapies for childhood epilepsy.”
The report, “Pubertal Expression of α4βδ GABAA Receptors Reduces Seizure-Like Discharges in CA1 Hippocampus,” published by Scientific Reports, is available online at: http://nature.com/articles/doi:10.1038/srep31928.
The article citation is: Yang, L. et al. Pubertal Expression of α4βδ GABAA Receptors Reduces Seizure-Like Discharges in CA1 Hippocampus. Sci. Rep. 6, 31928; doi: 10.1038/srep31928 (2016).
The research leading to the results published by Scientific Reports was supported by the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Mental Health, Award Number R01-MH100561. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute of Mental Health or National Institutes of Health.
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About SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn is one of four academic health centers (AMCs) in The State University of New York (SUNY) 64-campus system and the only SUNY AMC in New York City dedicated to health education, research, and patient care for the borough’s 2.7 million residents. Its flagship hospital, University Hospital at Downstate (UHD), is a teaching hospital and benefits from the expertise of Downstate’s exceptional medical school and world-class academic center research facilities. With a staff of over 800 physicians representing 53 specialties and subspecialties, Downstate offers comprehensive healthcare services to the community.
UHD provides high-risk neonatal and infant services, pediatric nephrology, and dialysis for kidney diseases and is the only kidney transplantation program in Brooklyn. Beyond its clinical expertise, Downstate houses a range of esteemed educational institutions, including its College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School of Health Professions, School of Graduate Studies, and School of Public Health. Downstate fosters innovation through its multifaceted biotechnology initiative, the Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT, which support early-stage and more mature biotech companies.