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Blood–brain barrier dysfunction, status epilepticus, seizures, and epilepsy: A puzzle of a chicken and egg?
Author(s) -
Friedman Alon
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2011.03227.x
Subject(s) - epileptogenesis , status epilepticus , blood–brain barrier , epilepsy , neuroscience , brain damage , neuroinflammation , medicine , central nervous system , immunology , inflammation , biology
Summary Status epilepticus is often associated with endothelial dysfunction and increased vessels permeability. We discuss here the direct role of blood–brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction in epileptogenesis and brain damage. On the cellular level, astrocytes respond early to the efflux of serum proteins in the presence of dysfunctional BBB, with activation of the innate immune system and disturbed homeostasis of extracellular potassium and glutamate. In turn, there is enhanced excitability of neurons and altered network connectivity. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF‐β) signaling appears to be a potential new target for the prevention of epileptogenesis and secondary damage following status epilepticus.