Glial GABA Transporters as Modulators of Inhibitory Signalling in Epilepsy and Stroke

Maria E K Lie, Anas Al-Khawaja, Maria Damgaard, Anne S Haugaard, Arne Schousboe, Andrew N Clarkson, Petrine Wellendorph

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingBook chapterResearchpeer-review

24 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Imbalances in GABA-mediated tonic inhibition are involved in several pathophysiological conditions. A classical way of controlling tonic inhibition is through pharmacological intervention with extrasynaptic GABAA receptors that sense ambient GABA and mediate a persistent GABAergic conductance. An increase in tonic inhibition may, however, also be obtained indirectly by inhibiting glial GABA transporters (GATs). These are sodium-coupled membrane transport proteins that normally act to terminate GABA neurotransmitter action by taking up GABA into surrounding astrocytes. The aim of the review is to provide an overview of glial GATs in regulating tonic inhibition, especially in epilepsy and stroke. This entails a comprehensive summary of changes known to occur in GAT expression levels and signalling following epileptic and ischemic insults. Further, we discuss the accumulating pharmacological evidence for targeting GATs in these diseases.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAdvances in Neurobiology
Number of pages31
Volume16
Publication date2017
Pages137-167
ISBN (Electronic)978-3-319-55769-4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017
SeriesAdvances in Neurobiology
ISSN2190-5215

Keywords

  • Journal Article

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