Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is one of the most prevalent mental retardations. It is mainly caused by the loss of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP). FMRP is an RNA binding protein and can regulate the translation of its binding RNA, thus regulate several signaling pathways. Many FXS patients show high susceptibility to epilepsy. Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder which is characterized by the recurrent appearance of spontaneous seizures due to neuronal hyperactivity in the brain. Both the abnormal activation of several signaling pathway and morphological abnormality that are caused by the loss of FMRP can lead to a high susceptibility to epilepsy. Combining with the research progresses on both FXS and epilepsy, we outlined the possible mechanisms of high susceptibility to epilepsy in FXS and tried to give a prospect on the future research on the mechanism of epilepsy that happened in other mental retardations.
脆性X综合征(fragile X syndrome, FXS)是一种最常见的遗传性智力障碍。 这种智力障碍疾病主要是由于脆性X智力低下蛋白(fragile X mental retardation protein, FMRP)的缺失引起。 FMRP是一种RNA结合蛋白, 通过调节与其结合的信使RNA的翻译而调节神经元内的信号传导。 很多FXS病人表现出较高的癫痫发作易感性。 癫痫是一种慢性神经系统疾病。 它的主要症状是反复的癫痫发作。 癫痫发作是由大脑神经元的异常高兴奋性和同步放电引起的。 FMRP缺失引起的神经元形态异常和神经元内信号传导的异常均可导致癫痫发作。 本文结合在FXS和癫痫病两方面上取得研究结果综合分析, 探讨FXS病人癫痫高易感性的发病机理, 并对其他智力障碍疾病中的癫痫高易感性的机制的研究做一展望。