Among the most robustly, significantly and uniquely downregulated genes in epilepsy astrocytes were the glutamate transporter GLAST/EAAT1 (SLC1A3); the sodium-dependent neutral amino acid transporter ASCT1 (SLC1A4); the gap junction proteins connexin 30 (GJB6) and connexin 43 (GJA1); and the water channel AQP4 (Fig. 3b). This evidence concerns the gene GJA1 and epilepsy.