title: Molecular genetics of human familial epilepsy syndromes.
abstract: Genetic defects have been recently identified in certain inherited epilepsy syndromes in which the phenotypes are similar to those of common idiopathic epilepsies. Mutations in the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha4 and beta2 subunit genes have been detected in families with autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy. Both receptors are components of neuronal acetylcholine receptor, a ligand-gated ion channel in the brain. Furthermore, mutations of two K+ channel genes also were identified as the underlying genetic abnormalities of benign familial neonatal convulsions. Mutations in the voltage-gated Na+-channel alpha1 and beta1 subunit genes were found as the cause of generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus, a clinical subset of febrile convulsions. Mutation of a voltage-gated K+-channel gene can cause partial seizures associated with periodic ataxia type 1 and some forms of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy can result from mutations of a Ca2+ channel. This line of evidence suggests the involvement of channels expressed in the brain in the pathogenesis of certain types of epilepsy. Our working hypothesis is to view certain idiopathic epilepsies as disorders of ion channels (i.e., "channelopathies"). Such a hypothesis should provide a new insight into our understanding of the genetic background of epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, and Department of Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Japan. hirose@fukuoka-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hirose
authors.forename: Motohiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Sunao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.forename: Akihisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mitsudome
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000235:genetics; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000235:genetics; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D020936:Epilepsy, Benign Neonatal / Q000235:genetics; D017034:Epilepsy, Frontal Lobe / Q000235:genetics; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000235:genetics; D005799:Genes, Dominant; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000235:genetics*; D008967:Molecular Biology; D009154:Mutation; D010375:Pedigree; D010641:Phenotype; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000235:genetics; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated / Q000235:genetics; D003294:Seizures, Febrile / Q000235:genetics; D012890:Sleep; D013577:Syndrome; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D007473:Ion Channels; D015221:Potassium Channels; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated