The BDNF receptor tyrosine kinase, TrkB, underlies nervous system function in both health
and disease. Excessive activation of TrkB caused by status epilepticus promotes
development of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), revealing TrkB as a therapeutic target for
prevention of TLE. To circumvent undesirable consequences of global inhibition of TrkB
signaling, we implemented a novel strategy aimed at selective inhibition of the TrkB-
activated signaling pathway responsible for TLE. Our studies of a mouse model reveal that …

Temporal lobe epilepsy is a common and devastating disorder that features recurrent
seizures and is often associated with pathologic anxiety and hippocampal sclerosis. An
episode of prolonged seizures (status epilepticus) is thought to promote development of
human temporal lobe epilepsy years later. A chemical-genetic approach established proof of
concept that transiently inhibiting the receptor tyrosine kinase, TrkB, following status
epilepticus prevented epilepsy, anxiety-like behavior and hippocampal damage in a mouse …