TRPM4 regulates hilar mossy cell loss in temporal lobe epilepsy.

Background: Mossy cells comprise a large fraction of excitatory neurons in the hippocampal dentate gyrus, and their loss is one of the major hallmarks of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). The vulnerability of mossy cells in TLE is well known in animal models as well as in patients; however, the mechanisms leading to cellular death is unclear.

Results: Transient receptor potential melastatin 4 (TRPM4) is a Ca-activated non-selective cation channel regulating diverse physiological functions of excitable cells.