# GABA-inflammation interplay in infantile spasms

> **NIH NIH R01** · ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · 2020 · $31,593

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Infantile spasms are epileptic seizures that appear within a spectrum of infantile epileptic encephalopathies
with poor prognosis. They are age-specific and have different mechanisms and pharmacosensitivity from other
seizures. They have multiple etiologies, among which inflammatory processes have been implicated. An
important feature of early brain development is the presence of depolarizing GABAA receptor signaling,
needed for normal development, which gradually shifts to the normal hyperpolarizing GABAA receptor
signaling seen in more mature ages. Using rat and mouse models of infantile spasms, we have found evidence
that the presence of depolarizing GABAA receptor signaling in the setting of focal cortical inflammation, may
underlie the age-specific susceptibility to inflammation-induced spasms and may predispose to a more severe
phenotype. Here we investigate the interactions between depolarizing GABAA receptor signaling and
inflammation that lead to age-specific expression of spasms and predispose to a more severe phenotype. We 
will also investigate whether this GABA-­‐‑inflammation interaction affects subsequent epilepsy in adulthood.
We will use a combination of stereotactic surgeries, video-EEG monitoring, histology, gene and protein
expression studies, in vitro electrophysiology, drug administrations to determine the molecular and
electrophysiological mechanisms involved and identify new candidate targets for novel treatments for infantile
spasms. Our studies are expected to deliver new candidate targets for the development of new therapeutics for
infantile spasms and subsequent epilepsies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10000445
- **Project number:** 3R01NS091170-07S1
- **Recipient organization:** ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Aristea S Galanopoulou
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $31,593
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-12-01 → 2020-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10000445

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10000445, GABA-inflammation interplay in infantile spasms (3R01NS091170-07S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10000445. Licensed CC0.

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