Translational research in epilepsy genetics: Sodium channels in man to interneuronopathy in mouse

Abstract

Voltage-gated sodium channels are critical for membrane excitability. Mutations in the genes coding for these proteins cause diseases related to altered excitability of cardiac or skeletal muscle and neurons. Mutations in the central nervous system-specific voltage-gated sodium channel α1 subunit gene (SCN1A) lead not only to seizure syndromes but also to familial hemiplegic migraine. The epilepsies range from benign febrile seizures to the catastrophic epileptic encephalopathy of Dravet syndrome (severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy). Recently developed animal models of SCN1A mutants recapitulate the human disease. These models exemplify the potential inherent in translational research to d..