Carbamazepine inhibits angiotensin converting enzyme I, linking it to the pathogenesis of temporal lobe epilepsy

• Grant number: 12/02056-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants - Publications - Scientific article
• Start date: April 01, 2012
• End date: September 30, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Neuropsychopharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Ronaldo de Carvalho Araújo
• Grantee: Ronaldo de Carvalho Araújo
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

We find that a common mutation that increases angiotensin converting enzyme activity occurs with higher frequency in patients suffering from refractory temporal lobe epilepsy. However, in their brains, the activity of the enzyme is down-regulated. As an explanation, we surprisingly find that carbamazepine, commonly used to treat epilepsy, is an important inhibitor of the enzyme, thus providing a direct link between epilepsy and the renin angiotensin and kinin kallikrein systems. (AU)