title: Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated (HCN) Channels in Epilepsy.
abstract: Epilepsy is a common brain disorder characterized by the occurrence of spontaneous seizures. These bursts of synchronous firing arise from abnormalities of neuronal networks. Excitability of individual neurons and neuronal networks is largely governed by ion channels and, indeed, abnormalities of a number of ion channels resulting from mutations or aberrant expression and trafficking underlie several types of epilepsy. Here, we focus on the hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated ion (HCN) channels that conduct Ih current. This conductance plays complex and diverse roles in the regulation of neuronal and network excitability. We describe the normal function of HCN channels and discuss how aberrant expression, assembly, trafficking, and posttranslational modifications contribute to experimental and human epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, California 92697-4475.
authors.forename: Gary P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, California 92697-4475 Departments of Anatomy/Neurobiology and Neurology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, California 92697-4475.
authors.forename: Tallie Z
authors.initials: TZ
authors.lastname: Baram
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Regional Epilepsy Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98104.
authors.forename: Nicholas P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Poolos
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D064428:Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D009712:Nucleotides, Cyclic / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D064428:Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channels; D009712:Nucleotides, Cyclic