The Role of Innate Immune System Receptors in Epilepsy Research.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Epilepsy is one of the most complex neurological disorders and its study requires a broad knowledge of neurology and neuroscience. It comprises a diverse group of neurological disorders that share the central feature of spontaneous recurrent seizures, and are often accompanied by cognitive deficits and mood disorder. This condition is one of the most common neurological disorders. Until recently, alterations of neuronal activities had been the focus of epilepsy research. This neurocentric emphasis did not address issues that arise in more complex models of epileptogenesis. An important factor in epilepsy that is not regulated directly by neurons is inflammation and the immune response of the brain. Recent evidence obtained in rodent epilepsy models supports the role of immune responses in the initiation and maintenance of epilepsy. Recognition of exogenous pathogens by the innate immune system is mediated by some pattern recognition receptors such as Toll-like receptors leading to cell activation and cytokine production. Currently, these receptors have been the focus of epilepsy studies looking to determine whether the innate immune activation is neuroprotective or neurotoxic for the brain. CONCLUSION: Here, we present the evidence in the literature of the involvement of key innate immune receptors in the development of epilepsy. We address some of the contradictory findings in these studies and also mention possible avenues for research into epilepsy treatments that target these receptors.

Nanomaterials for Neurology: State-of-the-Art.

Despite the numerous challenges associated with the application of nanotechnology in neuroscience, it promises to have a significant impact on our understanding of how the nervous system works, how it fails in disease, and the development of earlier and less-invasive diagnostic procedures so we can intervene in the pre-clinical stage of neurological disease before extensive neurological damage has taken place. Ultimately, both the challenges and opportunities that nanotechnology presents stem from the fact that this technology provides a way to interact with neural cells at the molecular level. In this review we provide a neurobiological overview of key neurological disorders, describe the different types of nanomaterials in use and discuss their current and potential uses in neuroscience. We also discuss the issue of toxicity in these nanomaterials. This review presents many of the different applications that advances in nanotechnology are having in the field of neurological sciences, especially the high impact they are having in the development of new treatment modalities for neurological disorders that will induce the expected physiological response while minimizing undesirable secondary effects. In conclusion, we weigh in on what the promises and challenges are for future development in this groundbreaking field.