title: GABA actions and ionic plasticity in epilepsy.
abstract: Concepts of epilepsy, based on a simple change in neuronal excitation/inhibition balance, have subsided in face of recent insights into the large diversity and context-dependence of signaling mechanisms at the molecular, cellular and neuronal network level. GABAergic transmission exerts both seizure-suppressing and seizure-promoting actions. These two roles are prone to short-term and long-term alterations, evident both during epileptogenesis and during individual epileptiform events. The driving force of GABAergic currents is controlled by ion-regulatory molecules such as the neuronal K-Cl cotransporter KCC2 and cytosolic carbonic anhydrases. Accumulating evidence suggests that neuronal ion regulation is highly plastic, thereby contributing to the multiple roles ascribed to GABAergic signaling during epileptogenesis and epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland; Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: Kai.Kaila@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaila
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland; Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ruusuvuori
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland; Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Seja
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Voipio
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland; Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puskarjov
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009433:Neural Inhibition; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D027981:Symporters / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D000096922:K Cl- Cotransporters
chemical_list: D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D027981:Symporters; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000096922:K Cl- Cotransporters