Viral infections of the central nervous system (CNS) are associated with an increased risk for seizures, status epilepticus (SE), and the development of chronic epilepsy. We recently described a novel animal model of viral-induced epilepsy. Mice (C57BL/6) who receive intracerebral injections of Theiler's Murine Encephalomyelitis Virus (TMEV) display acute spontaneous seizures several days after infection, survive the initial infection and go on to develop spontaneous recurrent seizures. Preliminary data using C57BL/6 mice with various cytokines or cytokine receptors knocked-out have shown that these genetic manipulations can significantly alter the pathologic sequelae observed following TMEV injection of wildtype mice. Therefore, we propose to test our overall hypothesis that TMEV infection is associated with increased expression of TNF-a that contributes to increased neuronal excitability, acute seizures, neuropathology, and ultimately, epilepsy. The proposed experiments will lead to a greater understanding of the role of viral and immune contributions to acute seizures, altered neuronal and glial function, and epileptogenesis. We will use a multidisciplinary approach;including, chronic video-EEG monitoring and brain slice electrophysiology to: 1) test the hypothesis that the TNF-a pathway plays an important role in the development of chronic seizures following TMEV infection, and 2) test the hypothesis that TNF-a signaling mediates changes in synaptic and/or glial function in the hippocampus in TMEV infected mice. We anticipate that the results generated will provide a novel model in which to study the role of infection in the development of epilepsy. In addition, these experiments will provide important new insight into the role of TNF-a in cell death, synaptic transmission and epileptogenesis and set the stage for the development of novel therapeutic interventions for the prevention of infection-induced epilepsy.

Public Health Relevance

Viral infections of the central nervous system are associated with an increased risk for seizures, status epilepticus, and the development of chronic epilepsy. We have developed a novel mouse model of viral induced epilepsy using cortical injections of Theiler's Murine Encephalitis Virus (TMEV) to study epileptogenesis. The proposed multidisciplinary set of experiments will lead to a greater understanding of the role of viral and host immune contributions to acute seizures, altered neuronal function, and epileptogenesis.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS065434-02
Application #
8305492
Study Section
Clinical Neuroplasticity and Neurotransmitters Study Section (CNNT)
Program Officer
Fureman, Brandy E
Project Start
2011-08-01
Project End
2014-04-30
Budget Start
2012-05-01
Budget End
2013-04-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$299,000
Indirect Cost
$99,000
Name
University of Utah
Department
Pharmacology
Type
Schools of Pharmacy
DUNS #
009095365
City
Salt Lake City
State
UT
Country
United States
Zip Code
84112
Patel, Dipan C; Wallis, Glenna; Dahle, E Jill et al. (2017) Hippocampal TNF? Signaling Contributes to Seizure Generation in an Infection-Induced Mouse Model of Limbic Epilepsy. eNeuro 4:
Loewen, Jaycie L; Barker-Haliski, Melissa L; Dahle, E Jill et al. (2016) Neuronal Injury, Gliosis, and Glial Proliferation in Two Models of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 75:366-78
Barker-Haliski, Melissa L; Heck, Taylor D; Dahle, E Jill et al. (2016) Acute treatment with minocycline, but not valproic acid, improves long-term behavioral outcomes in the Theiler's virus model of temporal lobe epilepsy. Epilepsia 57:1958-1967
Barker-Haliski, Melissa L; Dahle, E Jill; Heck, Taylor D et al. (2015) Evaluating an etiologically relevant platform for therapy development for temporal lobe epilepsy: effects of carbamazepine and valproic acid on acute seizures and chronic behavioral comorbidities in the Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus mouse model J Pharmacol Exp Ther 353:318-29
Smeal, R M; Fujinami, R; White, H S et al. (2015) Decrease in CA3 inhibitory network activity during Theiler's virus encephalitis. Neurosci Lett 609:210-5
Wilcox, Karen S; Gee, James M; Gibbons, Meredith B et al. (2015) Altered structure and function of astrocytes following status epilepticus. Epilepsy Behav 49:17-9
Bhuyan, Pallavi; Patel, Dipan C; Wilcox, Karen S et al. (2015) Oxidative stress in murine Theiler's virus-induced temporal lobe epilepsy. Exp Neurol 271:329-34
Wilcox, Karen S; Vezzani, Annamaria (2014) Does brain inflammation mediate pathological outcomes in epilepsy? Adv Exp Med Biol 813:169-83
Simonato, Michele; Brooks-Kayal, Amy R; Engel Jr, Jerome et al. (2014) The challenge and promise of anti-epileptic therapy development in animal models. Lancet Neurol 13:949-60
Umpierre, Anthony D; Remigio, Gregory J; Dahle, E Jill et al. (2014) Impaired cognitive ability and anxiety-like behavior following acute seizures in the Theiler's virus model of temporal lobe epilepsy. Neurobiol Dis 64:98-106

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