Glial GABA Transporters as Modulators of Inhibitory Signalling in Epilepsy and Stroke

Maria E K Lie, Anas Al-Khawaja, Maria Damgaard, Anne S Haugaard, Arne Schousboe, Andrew N Clarkson, Petrine Wellendorph

    15 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Imbalances in GABA-mediated tonic inhibition are involved in several pathophysiological conditions. A classical way of controlling tonic inhibition is through pharmacological intervention with extrasynaptic GABAA receptors that sense ambient GABA and mediate a persistent GABAergic conductance. An increase in tonic inhibition may, however, also be obtained indirectly by inhibiting glial GABA transporters (GATs). These are sodium-coupled membrane transport proteins that normally act to terminate GABA neurotransmitter action by taking up GABA into surrounding astrocytes. The aim of the review is to provide an overview of glial GATs in regulating tonic inhibition, especially in epilepsy and stroke. This entails a comprehensive summary of changes known to occur in GAT expression levels and signalling following epileptic and ischemic insults. Further, we discuss the accumulating pharmacological evidence for targeting GATs in these diseases.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationAdvances in Neurobiology
    Number of pages31
    Volume16
    Publication date2017
    Pages137-167
    ISBN (Electronic)978-3-319-55769-4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2017
    SeriesAdvances in Neurobiology
    ISSN2190-5215

    Keywords

    • Journal Article

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