The Blood-Brain Barrier in Epilepsy

Abstract

The blood-brain barrier is altered in epilepsy. This includes altered expression of transporters and metabolic enzymes as well as barrier leakage that have been linked to antiepileptic drug resistance and seizure genesis, respectively. Here we highlight current understanding of these pathological changes. Three critical components of barrier function 1) tight junctions, 2) metabolising enzymes and 3) transporter proteins are introduced and we describe how they are changed in epilepsy and affected by epilepsy treatment. Recent efforts in blood-brain barrier research to overcome drug-resistant epilepsy are also discussed.