癫痫的分子遗传学研究进展

遗传因素是导致癫痫的重要原因,分子遗传学研究现已发现15个癫痫的致病基因.其中大部分编码离子通道,包括:电压门控性钾离子通道KCNQ2和KCNQ3,钠离子通道SCN1A、SCN2A和SCN1B,氯离子通道CLCN2,配体门控性离子通道CHRNA4、CHRNB2、GABRG2和GABRA1.非离子通道基因也能导致癫痫,这些基因包括G-蛋白偶联受体,MASS1/VLGR1、GM3合成酶和其他一些尚不知道蛋白质功能的基因,如LGI1、NHLRC1和EFHC1.癫痫的分子遗传学研究不仅使基因诊断成为可能,而且会带动新型药物和治疗方法的研究和发展.

Advances in the studies on the molecular and genetic aspects of epilepsy

Epilepsy is one of the most common and debilitating neurological diseases that affects more than 40 million people worldwide. Genetic factors contribute to the pathogenesis of epilepsy. Molecular genetic studies have identified 15 disease-causing genes for epilepsy. The majority of the genes encode ion channels, including voltage-gated potassium channels KCNQ2 and KCNQ3, sodium channels SCN1A, SCN2A, and SCN1B, chloride channels CLCN2, and ligand-gated ion channels CHRNA4, CHRNB2, GABRG2, and GABRA1. Interestingly, non-ion channel genes have also been identified as epilepsy genes, and these genes include G-protein-coupled receptor MASS1/VLGR1, GM3 synthase, and proteins with unknown functions such as LGI1, NHLRC1, and EFHC1. These studies make genetic testing possible in some patients, and further characterization of the identified epilepsy genes may lead to the development of new drugs and new treatments for patients with epilepsy.