Genetic and Molecular Regulation of Extrasynaptic GABA-A Receptors in the Brain: Therapeutic Insights for Epilepsy.

ABSTRACT: GABA-A receptors play a pivotal role in many brain diseases. Epilepsy is caused by acquired conditions and genetic defects in GABA receptor channels regulating neuronal excitability in the brain. The latter is referred to as GABA channelopathies. In the last two decades, major advances have been made in the genetics of epilepsy. The presence of specific GABAergic genetic abnormalities leading to some of the classic epileptic syndromes has been identified. Advances in molecular cloning and recombinant systems have helped characterize mutations in GABA-A receptor subunit genes in clinical neurology. GABA-A receptors are the prime targets for neurosteroids (NSs). However, GABA-A receptors are not static but undergo rapid changes in their number or composition in response to the neuroendocrine

SUBMITTER: Chuang SH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5771312 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature