Impaired maturation of cortical GABAA receptor expression in pediatric epilepsy

摘要: Summary Purpose:  Expression of the protein subunits that make up γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptor pentamer is known to change during postnatal brain development in animal models. In present study, analysis cortical GABAA subunit expression was performed control human tissue obtained from infancy through adolescence, and compared similarly aged children with intractable focal epilepsy. Methods:  Twenty frozen pediatric 25 epileptic neocortical specimens were collected. The membrane fractions isolated subjected quantitative western blot analysis. Subunit correlated clinical factors including age, pathology, medication exposure. Results:  samples, α1 γ2 exhibited low infancy, which increased over first several years life then stabilized adolescence. contrast, α4 higher infants than older children. level chloride transporter KCC2 markedly whereas NKCC1 decreased. These patterns absent epilepsy, both those dysplasia gliosis. Although there marked variability among identifiable found each individual child. Discussion:  Maturation continues development. Intractable epilepsy associated disruption this normal developmental pattern. findings have significant implications for treatment medications modulate function.