Levetiracetam inhibits interleukin-1 beta inflammatory responses in the hippocampus and piriform cortex of epileptic rats.
Levetiracetam (LEV, 2S-(oxo-1-pyrrolidinyl)butanamide, Keppra, UCB Pharma) is a new anti-epileptic drug used to treat certain types of seizures in epilepsy patients. However, the pharmacodynamics of LEV is still controversial. Recently, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) has been reported to involve in epileptic phenomena. Therefore, we investigated the effects of LEV on IL-1 beta system in the hippocampus and piriform cortex of chronic epileptic rats. As compared to controls, typical reactive astrogliosis and microgliosis were observed in the hippocampus and piriform cortex of epileptic animals. In addition, both reactive astrocytes and reactive microglia showed strong IL-1 beta and interleukin-1 receptor subtype 1 (IL-1R1) immunoreactivities. LEV reduced reactive gliosis and expression levels of IL-1 beta system in the hippocampus and the piriform cortex, while valproic acid did not. These findings suggest that the LEV may have, at least in part, anti-inflammatory effect, particularly against IL-1 beta system in neuroglia within epileptic brains.
Kim
Ji-Eun
JE
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chunchon 200-702, South Korea.
Choi
Hui-Chul
HC
Song
Hong-Ki
HK
Jo
Seung-Mook
SM
Kim
Duk-Soo
DS
Choi
Soo-Young
SY
Kim
Yeong-In
YI
Kang
Tae-Cheon
TC
D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D005911:Gliosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009833:Olfactory Pathways / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010862:Pilocarpine; D010889:Piracetam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D053573:Receptors, Interleukin-1 Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D053573:Receptors, Interleukin-1 Type I; D010862:Pilocarpine; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D014635:Valproic Acid; D010889:Piracetam