The Role of ASIC1a in Epilepsy: A Potential Therapeutic Target

BACKGROUND: Epilepsy represents one of the most common brain diseases among humans. Tissue acidosis is a common phenomenon in epileptogenic foci. Moreover, its role in epileptogenesis remains unclear. Acid-sensing ion channel-1a (ASIC1a) represents a potential way to assess new therapies. ASIC1a, mainly expressed in the mammalian brain, is a type of protein-gated cation channel. It has been shown to play an important role in the pathological mechanism of various diseases, including stroke, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis. METHODS: Data were collected from Web of Science, Medline, PubMed, through searching for these keywords: “Acid-sensing ion channels 1a” or “ASIC1a” and “epilepsy” or “seizure”. RESULTS: The role of ASIC1a in epilepsy remains controversial; it may represent a promising therapeutic target of epilepsy. CONCLUSION: This review is intended to provide an overview of the structure, trafficking, and molecular mechanisms of ASIC1a in order to elucidate the role of ASIC1a in epilepsy further.