Abstracts

Summary: Emerging evidence highlights pathophysiological interactions between inflammatory mediators and GABA or glutamate-mediated neurotransmission in CNS. These interactions include regulation by proinflammatory cytokines of trafficking and molecular assembly, as well as post-translational modifications, of GABA and glutamate receptor subunits. Additionally, proinflammatory cytokines can induce changes in extracellular glutamate concentrations acting on glia reuptake and release mechanisms. The speakers of this IW will address these novel aspects as follows: Dr. A. Volterra will talk about the role of inflammatory mediators in neuron-astrocyte cross-talk during synaptic transmission, and the implications of these functional interactions for CNS disorders characterized by brain inflammation. Dr. M.S. Beattie will describe specific interactions between TNF-alpha and AMPA receptors in neurons, and their role in excitotoxicity. Dr. M. Maroso will talk about Toll-like receptor signalling in the hippocampus, and its activation by inflammatory mediators released during tissue damage, focusing on ictogenesis. This IW will describe and discuss these findings in the frame of their relevance for normal brain physiology as well as their contribution to seizures and excitotoxicity in epilepsy. Interventions on brain inflammation to provide neuroprotective and anticonvulsant effects will be also discussed with the contributions of experts in this field (Dr T.Z. Baram, Dr Q. Pittman, Dr R. Dingledine).