P2X7 receptor antagonism potentiates seizure-suppressive effects of anti-seizure medications in human resected epileptic brain tissue
W skrócie
[Preprint - wstępne wyniki] Badacze testowali nowe podejście do leczenia epilepsji opornej na leki - połączenie tradycyjnych leków przeciwpadaczkowych z blokerami receptora P2X7, który odgrywa rolę w zapaleniu mózgu. W próbkach mózgu pacjentów z epilepsją wykazali, że blokery tego receptora istotnie wzmacniają efekt leków takich jak karbamazepina czy lorazepam, a działanie wiąże się ze zmniejszeniem stanu zapalnego w mózgu. Wyniki sugerują, że receptory P2X7 mogą być obiecującym celem dla nowych terapii uzupełniających u pacjentów z padaczką oporną na konwencjonalne leki.
Oryginalny abstract (angielski)
Resistance to anti-seizure medications (ASMs) remains a major clinical challenge in the management of epilepsy. Neuroinflammation has been implicated as a contributing mechanism and, consistent with this, antagonists of the ATP-gated P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) have been shown to enhance ASM efficacy in animal models. It remains unclear, however, if P2X7R antagonism is effective in human models of drug-resistant epilepsy. Here, we assessed the seizure-suppressive potential of the P2X7R antagonists AFC-5128 and JNJ-47965567 using electrophysiological recordings in acute resected brain slices from patients with epilepsy using artificial cerebrospinal fluid containing low Mg2+ and high K+ to evoked seizure-like events. P2X7R antagonists alone did not suppress seizure-like activity. When co-administered, however, P2X7R antagonists significantly enhanced the anti-seizure efficacy of carbamazepine and lorazepam. Notably, P2X7R antagonist treatment lowered Interleukin-1β levels, and betaine, a drug targeting Interleukin-1β release, mimicked the effects of P2X7R antagonists when combined with carbamazepine. Finally, mice with microglia-specific P2X7R depletion showed improved responsiveness to carbamazepine, suggesting P2X7R-mediated effects are partially mediated via their functions in microglia. These findings suggest that P2X7R-based therapies may represent an effective add-on approach for treating drug-resistant seizures associated with neuroinflammation.
Metadane publikacji
Journal
Preprint (medRxiv/bioRxiv)
Data publikacji
24.09.2026
DOI
10.64898/2026.09.18.752730
Europe PMC ID
PPR1328205
Autorzy
Fernandez Martin A, Gil B, Mitra M, Kesavan J, Lacey A, Sun M, OCallaghan AM, Healy V, Delanty N, Beausang A