title: Novel astrocyte targets: new avenues for the therapeutic treatment of epilepsy.
abstract: During the last 20 years, it has been well established that a finely tuned, continuous crosstalk between neurons and astrocytes not only critically modulates physiological brain functions but also underlies many neurological diseases. In particular, this novel way of interpreting brain activity is markedly influencing our current knowledge of epilepsy, prompting a re-evaluation of old findings and guiding novel experimentation. Here, we review recent studies that have unraveled novel and unique contributions of astrocytes to the generation and spread of convulsive and nonconvulsive seizures and epileptiform activity. The emerging scenario advocates an overall framework in which a dynamic and reciprocal interplay among astrocytic and neuronal ensembles is fundamental for a fuller understanding of epilepsy. In turn, this offers novel astrocytic targets for the development of those really novel chemical entities for the control of convulsive and nonconvulsive seizures that have been acknowledged as a key priority in the management of epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Division, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK crunelli@cardiff.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Crunelli
authors.affiliation: Centro Nazionale della Ricerca, Neuroscience Institute and Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carmignoto
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Steinhäuser
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020346:Aquaporins / Q000378:metabolism; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000378:metabolism; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020346:Aquaporins; D015221:Potassium Channels; D018698:Glutamic Acid
keywords: GABA; absence epilepsy; connexin; glutamate; potassium; temporal lobe epilepsy