Regenerative Medicine for Epilepsy: From Basic Research to Clinical Application

Abstract

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder, which presents with various forms of seizures. Traditional treatments, including medication using antiepileptic drugs, remain the treatment of choice for epilepsy. Recent development in surgical techniques and approaches has improved treatment outcomes. However, several epileptic patients still suffer from intractable seizures despite the advent of the multimodality of therapies. In this article, we initially provide an overview of clinical presentation of epilepsy then describe clinically relevant animal models of epilepsy. Subsequently, we discuss the concepts of regenerative medicine including cell therapy, neuroprotective agents, and electrical stimulation, which are reviewed within the context of our data.

Keywords

• brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)
• electrical stimulation
• erythropoietin
• GABAergic neuron
• kainic acid
• kindling
• neural stem cell