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The current invention is a novel approach to treating disorders such as epilepsy that would restore the normal E/I balance in network activity by permanently increasing the number.
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Summary Currently, millions of Americans suffer from epilepsy and fully 1/3 of these patients do not respond to available treatments. Researchers at Brandeis University have discovered that the Sema4D-PlexinB1 interaction may be harnessed as a novel strategy for the treatment of seizure disorders. A key aspect of neuronal circuit formation is achieving the proper balance of excitation and inhibition (E/I) within the circuit. A given neuron, through its synaptic connections, either excites or inhibits other neurons in the circuit, thus establishing this balance. Disruptions to the E/I balance can have pathological consequences for circuit function as demonstrated by the manifestation of devastating neurological disorders, including epilepsy and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The current invention is a novel approach to treating disorders such as epilepsy that would restore the normal E/I balance in network activity by permanently increasing the number of inhibitory synapses.