Epilepsy: key factors and research tools

Explore the complex pathogenesis of epilepsy and access the tools you need to support your research.

Download our interactive epilepsy pathway here.    

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​Overview

• What is epilepsy?
• Key factors in epileptogenesis – download our interactive pathway
• Role of biomarkers in epilepsy
• Recombinant monoclonal antibodies and proteins for epilepsy research
• References

What is epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a serious chronic neurological condition with complex pathology. It is characterized by recurrent, spontaneous, and unpredictable seizures, which disrupt normal brain function. Epilepsy occurs in all age groups and affects over 50 million people worldwide. ​

Key factors in epileptogenesis

Epileptogenesis is an assembly of factors that convert a healthy brain into a brain affected by recurrent seizure activity¹. Key factors contributing to epileptogenesis include neurodegeneration^2,3, disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB)⁴, and dysfunction of the glutamatergic system⁵, which is thought to be a result of neuroinflammation. Additionally, oxidative stress⁶ and hypoxia⁷ are considered to play a role in inducing epigenetic modification of DNA⁸. Furthermore, hypoxia may result in the activation of cytokines and the complement system, which contribute to neuroinflammation. The neuroinflammation may, in turn, induce the production of cytokines and the elements of the complement system in a feedback loop. The culmination of all these mechanisms is thought to lead to the development of epilepsy⁹.

Explore key pathological processes involved in the development of epilepsy with our interactive pathway and find the best products for your target of interest by reading the popups and product tables that include Abcam's full product offering.

Click on the preview image below to download our interactive pathway.

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Role of biomarkers in epilepsy

Finding novel biomarkers for post-epileptic brain damage may help to prevent complications and develop targeted methods of treatment in the future. Biomarkers may play a role in individualized epileptic treatment, based on the patients' biomarker profile, and in monitoring anti-epileptic treatment⁹.

High mobility group box-1 (HMGB1), a DNA-binding protein, has recently emerged as a potential common biomarker of traumatic brain injury, neuroinflammation, epileptogenesis, and cognitive dysfunctions, which can be used for early prediction and progression of those neurological conditions¹⁰. HMGB1/TLR4 regulatory axis acts as a key initiator of neuroinflammation and involved in the generation and exacerbation of epileptic seizures¹¹.​​

References​

1. Sloviter, R. S., Bumanglag, A. V. Defining “epileptogenesis” and identifying “antiepileptogenic targets” in animal models of acquired temporal lobe epilepsy is not as simple as it might seem. Neuropharmacology 69, 3–15 (2013).
2. Pitkanen, A., Lukasiuk, K. Molecular and cellular basis of epileptogenesis in symptomatic epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 14, 16–25 (2009).
3. Reddy, D. S. Neuroendocrine aspects of catamenial epilepsy. Horm. Behav. 63, 254–266 (2013).
4. Bar-Klein, G. et al. Imaging blood–brain barrier dysfunction as a biomarker for epileptogenesis. Brain 140, 1692–1705 (2017). 
5. Aroniadou-Anderjaska, V., Fritsch, B., Qashu, F., Braga, M. F. Pathology and pathophysiology of the amygdala in epileptogenesis and epilepsy. Epilepsy Res. 78, 102–116 (2008).
6. Ashrafi, M. R. et al. A probable causative factor for an old problem: selenium and glutathione peroxidase appear to play important roles in epilepsy pathogenesis. Epilepsia 48, 1750–1755 (2007). 
7. Loscher, W., Brandt, C. Prevention or modification of epileptogenesis after brain insults: experimental approaches and translational research. Pharmacol Rev. 62, 668–700 (2010). 
8. Younus, I., Reddy, D.S. Epigenetic interventions for epileptogenesis: A new frontier for curing epilepsy. Pharmacol Ther. 177,108–122 (2017). 
9. Kobylarek, D., et al. Advances in the potential biomarkers of epilepsy. Front Neurol. 10:685 (2019). 
10. Paudel, Y.N., et al. HMGB1: A common biomarker and potential target for TBI, neuroinflammation, epilepsy, and cognitive dysfunction. Front Neurosci. 12:628 (2018).
11. Paudel, Y.N., Semple, B.D., Jones, N.C., Othman, I., Shaikh, M.F. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) as a novel frontier in epileptogenesis: from pathogenesis to therapeutic approaches. J Neurochem.151, 542–557 (2019).
12. Rogawski, M.A. AMPA receptors as a molecular target in epilepsy therapy. Acta Neurol Scand Suppl. 197, 9–18 (2013).
13. Shan, Y., Ni, Y., Gao, Z. Pannexin-1 channel regulates ATP release in epilepsy. Neurochem Res. 45, 965–971 (2020).
14. Dossi E, Blauwblomme T, Moulard J, et al. Pannexin-1 channels contribute to seizure generation in human epileptic brain tissue and in a mouse model of epilepsy. Sci Transl Med. 10:eaar3796 (2018).