title: Expression of glutamine synthetase in balloon cells: a basis of their antiepileptic role?
abstract: Glutamine synthetase is an enzyme involved in the clearance of glutamate, the most potent excitatory neurotransmitter. We studied the immunohistochemical expression of glutamine synthetase in neocortical samples from 5 children who underwent surgery for pharmacoresistant epilepsy and a histological diagnosis of focal cortical dysplasia IIb. In all cases, balloon cells, but not dysmorphic neurons, were immunopositive for glutamine synthetase. This finding suggests that balloon cells can be involved in the neutralization of glutamate and play a protective anti-seizure role.
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Buccoliero
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barba
authors.forename: Flavio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: Gianna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baroni
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Genitori
authors.forename: Renzo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guerrini
authors.forename: Gian Luigi
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Taddei
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005974:Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D065703:Malformations of Cortical Development, Group I / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D005974:Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase