Breaking Bad: the Structure and Function of the Blood-Brain Barrier in Epilepsy

Hadas Han, Aniv Mann, Dana Ekstein, Sara Eyal

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Epilepsy is a neurological disease with variable etiology and clinical manifestation, affecting more than 50 million people worldwide. Although the ultimate precipitators of seizures are neurons, it is becoming evident that epileptic activity is associated with changes in the function of other cell types, including those consisting the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and regulating its permeability. The interrelationships between impaired BBB function and epilepsy are complex, as BBB dysfunction may both lead to seizures and be induced by epileptic activity. In this article, we review alterations in key BBB properties that have been found in patients with epilepsy and in animal models of the disease. We highlight emerging biomarkers for individualized treatment, implications for pharmacotherapy, and potential BBB-related targets for drug development.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)973-988
Number of pages16
JournalAAPS Journal
Volume19
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jul 2017

Keywords

  • antiepileptic drugs
  • blood-brain barrier
  • drug transporters
  • epilepsy
  • status epilepticus

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Pharmaceutical Science

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