Successful epilepsy treatment found for rats
UK researchers believe they have found a cure for epilepsy in rats by adding ‘calm down’ genes to hyperactive brain cells. They believe their approach could help people who cannot control their epileptic seizures with drugs.
Epilepsy is triggered by the rapid movement of neurons in the brain. These neurons are primed to fire off new messages; however, if a group of neurons become too excited they can throw the whole system into chaos leading to an epileptic seizure.
In order to test their hypothesis, researchers used a virus to insert the new genes into a small number of neurons. There are two methods to this; both use viruses injected into the brain to add tiny sections of DNA to the genetic code of just a few thousand neurons. One method boosts the brain cells' natural levels of inhibition in order to calm them down.
This treatment is a form of gene therapy, a field which is often criticised for failing to deliver. Early trials had problems with patients developing leukaemia and in one case a teenager died. One of the issues included the risk of inserting a new piece of DNA into the genetic code as it could disrupt other genes. There were also concerns about the safety of the virus.
Much more testing of the epilepsy gene therapies would be needed before it could be used in patients. If further animal tests are successful the first patients involved in any trial are likely to be those who are suitable and prepared for brain surgery. If there were problems or if the treatment did not work, the offending region of the brain could still be removed.
The chief executive of Epilepsy Action, Philip Lee, said: "Gene therapy research is an important development in our understanding of epilepsy. It is very encouraging that progress is being made in this arena to help people with epilepsy.
"Although it is too early to say if this research will directly benefit people with epilepsy in the future, we hope it helps us to move closer to more effective treatments."
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