Reduction in focal ictal activity following transplantation of MGE interneurons requires expression of the GABAA receptor α4 subunit.

TitleReduction in focal ictal activity following transplantation of MGE interneurons requires expression of the GABAA receptor α4 subunit.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsJaiswal MK, Keros S, Zhao M, Inan M, Schwartz TH, Anderson SA, Homanics GE, Goldstein PA
JournalFront Cell Neurosci
Volume9
Pagination127
Date Published2015
ISSN1662-5102
Abstract

Despite numerous advances, treatment-resistant seizures remain an important problem. Loss of neuronal inhibition is present in a variety of epilepsy models and is suggested as a mechanism for increased excitability, leading to the proposal that grafting inhibitory interneurons into seizure foci might relieve refractory seizures. Indeed, transplanted medial ganglionic eminence interneuron progenitors (MGE-IPs) mature into GABAergic interneurons that increase GABA release onto cortical pyramidal neurons, and this inhibition is associated with reduced seizure activity. An obvious conclusion is that inhibitory coupling between the new interneurons and pyramidal cells underlies this effect. We hypothesized that the primary mechanism for the seizure-limiting effects following MGE-IP transplantation is the tonic conductance that results from activation of extrasynaptic GABAA receptors (GABAA-Rs) expressed on cortical pyramidal cells. Using in vitro and in vivo recording techniques, we demonstrate that GABAA-R α4 subunit deletion abolishes tonic currents (Itonic) in cortical pyramidal cells and leads to a failure of MGE-IP transplantation to attenuate cortical seizure propagation. These observations should influence how the field proceeds with respect to the further development of therapeutic neuronal transplants (and possibly pharmacological treatments).

DOI10.3389/fncel.2015.00127
Alternate JournalFront Cell Neurosci
PubMed ID25914623
PubMed Central IDPMC4391265
Grant ListR01 MH066912 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R37 AA010422 / AA / NIAAA NIH HHS / United States