Chronobiology of limbic seizures: Potential mechanisms and prospects of chronotherapy for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy
Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceio, Alagoas, Brazil
- Facultyo of Medicine, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil
- Research Service, Olin E. Teague Veterans’ Medical Center, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas, USA
Abstract
Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (mTLE) characterized by progressive development of complex partial seizures originating from the hippocampus is the most prevalent and refractory type of epilepsy. One of the remarkable features of mTLE is the rhythmic pattern of occurrence of spontaneous seizures, implying a dependence on the endogenous clock system for seizure threshold. Conversely, circadian rhythms are affected by epilepsy too. Comprehending how the circadian system and seizures interact with each other is essential for understanding the pathophysiology of epilepsy as well as for developing innovative therapies that are efficacious for better seizure control. In this review, we confer how the temporal dysregulation of the circadian clock in the hippocampus combined with multiple uncoupled oscillators could lead to periodic seizure occurrences and comorbidities. Unraveling these associations with additional research would help in developing chronotherapy for mTLE, based on the chronobiology of spontaneous seizures. Notably, differential dosing of antiepileptic drugs over the circadian period and/or strategies that resynchronize biological rhythms may substantially improve the management of seizures in mTLE patients.
