Background

Epilepsy is driven by changes in how our brain cells control their genes using tiny “regulatory” molecules. Until now, it has been difficult to tell which specific types of brain cells are responsible for these changes and how they contribute to the disease as it progresses.

Research

We used specialized mouse models to separate and study these molecules in two key cell types: neurons and the brain’s immune cells (microglia). We discovered that these cells react very differently, with the immune cells responding rapidly to an epilepsy-causing brain injury while neurons show a much slower, delayed response.

Potential Impact

Our findings show that epilepsy treatments may be more successful if they are designed to target the right cells at the right time. This discovery opens the door for “precision” therapies that can correct the specific molecular mistakes in individual cell types, potentially making treatments more effective with fewer side effects.