Title:A Novel Approach to Refractory Epilepsy by Targeting Pgp Peripherally and Centrally: Therapeutic Targets and Future Perspectives
Volume: 19
Issue: 10
Author(s): Urvashi Langeh, Pooja Chawla, Ghanshyam Das Gupta and Shamsher Singh*
Affiliation:
- Neuroscience Division, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab-142001,India
Keywords:
Refractory epilepsy, pharmacotherapy, drug resistance, resistance epilepsy, epileptogenic brain, P-glycoprotein.
Abstract: Refractory epilepsy is a type of epilepsy involving seizures uncontrolled by first or second-
line anticonvulsant drugs at a regular therapeutic dose. Despite considerable growth in epileptic
pharmacotherapy, one-third of the patients are resistant to current therapies. In this, the mechanisms
responsible for resistant epilepsy are either increased expulsion of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs)
by multidrug resistance (MDR) transporters from the epileptogenic tissue or reduced sensitivity
of drug in epileptogenic brain tissue. The difficulty to treat refractory epilepsy is because of drug resistance
due to cellular drug efflux, use of drug monotherapy, and subtherapeutic dose administration.
Increased expression of Pgp is also responsible for resistance epilepsy or refractory epilepsy.
Increased glutamate expression via inhibition of cyclooxygenase-II (COX-II) enzyme also upregulate
P-glycoprotein (Pgp) expression and augment instance of recurrent seizures. Peripheral and
central inhibition of Pgp is a powerful tool to control this drug resistant epilepsy. Drug resistance
primarily involves multidrug resistance (MDR1) gene responsible for encoding P-glycoprotein (Pg-
P1 or MDR1). Currently, there is no drug under clinical practice which inhibits MDR1. The present
review cites some drugs like Calcium Channel Blockers (CCBs), COX-II inhibitors, and glutamate
receptors antagonists that inhibit P-gp. The exploitation of these targets may emerge as a beneficial
approach for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. The present review further highlights the
mechanistic role of Pgp in drug-resistant epilepsy, glutamate role in drug efflux, and management
approach.