FIGURE 1.

In vitro human cell culture models. (A) Patient derived cell culture models. Non neural or neural somatic cells can be acquired from patients with epilepsy. Non neural somatic cells (fibroblasts or blood cells) can be reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and then further differentiate into two dimensional (2D) or three dimensional (3D) neural cultures. Another option is direct reprogramming of the non neural somatic cells into neural cultures without ever reaching the pluripotent stage. (B) Previously established cell lines. Another approach is testing the gene variants discovered during the gene screening of a patient with epilepsy. Detected gene variants can be introduced using various methods (transfection, transduction, genome editing using CRISPR/Cas9 or TALEN) into distinct characterized cell lines. Subsequently, the impact of the editing on the cell properties and function can be monitored. Created with BioRender.com.