Neural stem cells and epilepsy: functional roles and disease-in-a-dish models

Drew Michael Thodeson, Rebecca Brulet, Jenny Hsieh

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

Epilepsy is a disorder of the central nervous system characterized by spontaneous recurrent seizures. Although current therapies exist to control the number and severity of clinical seizures, there are no pharmacological cures or disease-modifying treatments available. Use of transgenic mouse models has allowed an understanding of neural stem cells in their relation to epileptogenesis in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Further, with the significant discovery of factors necessary to reprogram adult somatic cell types into pluripotent stem cells, it has become possible to study monogenic epilepsy-in-a-dish using patient-derived neurons. This discovery along with some of the newest technological advances in recapitulating brain development in a dish has brought us closer than ever to a platform in which to study and understand the mechanisms of this disease. These technologies will be critical in understanding the mechanism of epileptogenesis and ultimately lead to improved therapies and precision medicine for patients with epilepsy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)47-54
Number of pages8
JournalCell and Tissue Research
Volume371
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2018

Keywords

  • Adult neurogenesis
  • Epilepsy
  • Neural stem cells
  • Organoids
  • Seizure

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine
  • Histology
  • Cell Biology

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