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The roles of adenosine to prevent epileptogenesis through anterior nucleus of thalamus deep brain stimulation

Grant number: 19/25974-4
Support Opportunities:Regular Research Grants
Duration: September 01, 2020 - August 31, 2022
Field of knowledge:Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
Principal Investigator:Luciene Covolan
Grantee:Luciene Covolan
Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Current Epilepsy therapies are inadequate as at least 30% of all patients develop pharmacoresistance and/or suffer from psychiatric comorbidities as well as significant side-effects from antiepileptic drugs. Anterior nucleus of the thalamus deep brain stimulation (ANT-DBS) was recently approved in the US and Brazil, as an alternative treatment option for patients with medically refractory focal epilepsies. Although recent clinical trials showed that a sizable number of patients with focal Epilepsy showed significant reduction in their spontaneous recurrent (SRS) seizures during ANT-DBS, its mechanisms of action are still poorly understood. By using the pilocarpine model of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE) in the rat, we have previously demonstrated that ANT-DBS reduces neuronal excitability, neuroinflammation and apoptosis, with concomitant increases in adenosine (ADO) levels in the hippocampus. In the current study, we test the hypothesis that ANT-DBS suppresses seizures through increased activation of adenosine A1R and Epilepsy development through inhibition of DNA methylation. We will use the pilocarpine model in rats to induce status epilepticus and chronic ANT-DBS to test the hypothesis that ANT-DBS (1) will prevent or delay the development of SRS (anti-epileptogenic effect), (2) will modify the hippocampal expression of ADO/ADK, and (3) leads to the suppression of DNA methylation (dependent on nuclear ADK form). The expected outcome is in the characterization of the mechanisms of action of ANT-DBS as an anti-epileptogenic and anti-ictogenic neuromodulation technique. In particular, we will determine whether the antiepileptogenic effects of ANT-DBS are specifically related to adenosine and dependent on epigenetic alterations. An understanding of the ANT-DBS mechanism of action may reveal a new class of therapies for Epilepsy and its prevention. (AU)

Articles published in Agência FAPESP Newsletter about the research grant:
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Scientific publications
(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)
MOTTA POLLO, MARIA LUIZA; GIMENES, CHRISTIANE; COVOLAN, LUCIENE. Male rats are more vulnerable to pentylenetetrazole-kindling model but females have more spatial memory-related deficits. Epilepsy & Behavior, v. 129, p. 7-pg., . (21/04742-8, 19/25974-4)

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