Increased expression of the ATP-gated P2X7 receptor reduces responsiveness to anti-convulsants during status epilepticus in mice

Edward Beamer , James Morgan , Mariana Alves , Aida Menéndez Méndez , Gareth Morris , Béla Zimmer , Giorgia Conte , Laura de Diego-Garcia , Cristina Alarcón-Vila , Nico Ka Yiu Ng , Stephen Madden , Francesco Calzaferri , Cristobal de Los Rios , Antonio G Garcia , Michael Hamacher , Klaus Dinkel, Pablo Pelegrin , David C Henshall , Annette Nicke , Tobias Engel 

Refractory status epilepticus is a clinical emergency associated with high mortality and morbidity. Increasing evidence suggests neuroinflammation contributes to the development of drug-refractoriness during status epilepticus. The aim of the present study was to determine the contribution of the ATP-gated P2X7 receptor (P2X7R), previously linked to both inflammation and increased hyperexcitability, to drug-refractory status epilepticus and its therapeutic potential.

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