The role of the TNFα-mediated astrocyte signaling pathway in epilepsy

Epilepsy is a common disease in the central nervous system. There is growing evidence that epilepsy is associated with glial cells, including astrocytes. Tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) is a “master regulator” of proinflammatory cytokine production and is secreted by microglia and astrocytes. TNFα secreted by microglia can activate astrocytes. Additionally, TNFα can regulate neuron activity and induce epilepsy by increasing the glutamate release, reducing the expression of γ-aminobutyric acid, inducing neuroinflammation and affecting the synaptic function in astrocytes. This review summarizes the signaling pathways and receptors of TNFα acting on astrocytes that are related to epilepsy and provides insights into the potential therapeutic strategies of epilepsy for clinical practice.