Potential regulatory mechanisms for NKCC1 and KCC2 that induce temporal lobe epilepsy

The specific cause for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy at a molecular level has remained unknown for decades. Much research has proposed possible mechanisms that would induce mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. In this article, we briefly summarize some of the present theories on the cause of this disease and then introduce our theory on NKCC1 upregulation in hippocampal pyramidal cells as a potential cause of epilepsy. We specifically discussed the WNK pathway that regulates NKCC1 and KCC2 as a potential cause of epilepsy and explored another possible mechanism that overrides WNK and would potentially induce mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Eventually, we discussed future expectations on medication according to our theory.