Translocator protein expression in an animal model of temporal lobe epilepsy.

Epilepsy is a devastating disorder affecting 65 million people worldwide characterized by recurrent seizures. This research project will investigate a novel hypothesis connecting translocator protein (TSPO) overexpression, a hallmark of brain inflammation, and spontaneous seizure outcome during the development of epilepsy (epileptogenesis). Our hypothesis is supported by the observation that i) TSPO is highly up-regulated in epilepsy and ii) our preliminary data suggest a relationship between TSPO overexpression and spontaneous seizure outcome. Unraveling this relationship will enable us to assess TSPO as a biomarker for maladaptive neuroplasticity during epileptogenesis. Firstly, by means of translational techniques, we will investigate longitudinally the pattern of TSPO expression during epileptogenesis in vivo in the kainic acid-induced status epilepticus (KASE) model. Secondly, the role of TSPO in epileptogenesis will be investigated by the study of the effects of the absence of TSPO in the TSPO knockout mouse, and by pharmacological stimulation of TSPO in the KASE model. This innovative project will increase our understanding of brain excitability during epileptogenesis offering a biomarker to identify patients at risk and moving the field forward giving a contribution to the development of therapies to prevent acquired epilepsy.

Keywords:EPILEPSY

Disciplines:Biomaterials engineering, Biological system engineering, Biomechanical engineering, Other (bio)medical engineering, Environmental engineering and biotechnology, Industrial biotechnology, Other biotechnology, bio-engineering and biosystem engineering, Neurosciences, Biological and physiological psychology, Cognitive science and intelligent systems, Developmental psychology and ageing

Project type:Collaboration project