2014

Challenge Award, Funded by the CJM Foundation

Endosomal Toll-Like Receptor (eTLR) Targeting To Prevent/Treat Epilepsy: In Vivo Proof-Of-Concept

Braxton Norwood, PhD
Phillips Universitaet Marburg, Germany
 

Epilepsy is a complex disorder that is controlled by many factors. Toll-like receptors (TLRs), part of the immune system, play a crucial role in the development of epilepsy, regulating many processes that are altered in this disorder. We recently discovered that mice with particular TLR dysregulation exhibit spontaneous seizures in adulthood, despite having normal brain structure. We hypothesize that this immune system dysfunction causes epilepsy. We will first characterize this novel model of epilepsy and then determine whether manipulating these TLRs, with commercially available substances, can stop/prevent epilepsy. The resulting translational data could lead to novel therapies for epilepsy.

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