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Review Article

Gene Therapy Repairs for the Epileptic Brain: Potential for Treatment and Future Directions

Author(s): Md. A. Ahmad, Faheem H. Pottoo* and Md. Akbar

Volume 19, Issue 6, 2019

Page: [367 - 375] Pages: 9

DOI: 10.2174/1566523220666200131142423

Price: $65

Abstract

Epilepsy is a syndrome specified by frequent seizures and is one of the most prevalent neurological conditions, and that one-third of people of epilepsy are resistant to available drugs. Surgery is supposed to be the main treatment for the remedy of multiple drug-resistant epilepsy, but it is a drastic procedure. Advancement in genomic technologies indicates that gene therapy can make such surgery unnecessary. The considerable number of new studies show the significance of mutation in mammalian target of rapamycin pathway, NMDA receptors, GABA receptors, potassium channels and G-protein coupled receptors. Illustration of the meticulous drug in epilepsy targeting new expression of mutations in SCN8A, GRIN2A, GRIN2D and KCNT1 are conferred. Various methods are utilized to express a gene in a precise area of the brain; Transplantation of cells in an ex vivo approach (fetal cells, fibroblasts, immortalized cells), nonviral vector delivery and viral vector delivery like retrovirus, herpes simplex virus adenovirus and adeno-related virus. Gene therapy has thus been explored to generate anti-epileptogenic, anti-seizure and disease-modifying effects. Specific targeting of the epileptogenic region is facilitated by gene therapy, hence sparing the adjacent healthy tissue and decreasing the adverse effects that frequently go hand in hand with antiepileptic medication.

Keywords: Channelopathies, epilepsy, gene therapy, neuroprotection, status epilepticus, temporal lobe epilepsy, nonviral vector delivery, viral vector delivery.

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