Title:Serum MicroRNAs as Predictors of Diagnosis and Drug-resistance in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: A Preliminary Study
Volume: 22
Issue: 14
Author(s): Gloria Bertoli*, Francesco Fortunato, Claudia Cava, Ida Manna*, Francesca Gallivanone, Angelo Labate, Antonella Panio, Danilo Porro and Antonio Gambardella*
Affiliation:
- Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology, National Research Council (IBFM-CNR), Via F.Cervi 93, Segrate,
Milan, Italy
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo 90133, Italy
- IBFM-CNR, Section of Germaneto, Catanzaro, Italy
- Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology, National Research Council (IBFM-CNR), Via F.Cervi 93, Segrate,
Milan, Italy
- Institute of Neurology, Department of
Medical and Surgical Sciences, University "Magna Graecia", Germaneto, Catanzaro, Italy
Keywords:
Temporal lobe epilepsy, TLE, microRNAs, miRNAs, diagnosis, prediction of therapy response, prognosis, circulating biomarkers.
Abstract:
Objective: Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most common form of refractory focal
epilepsy, and the current clinical diagnosis is based on EEG, clinical neurological history and neuroimaging
findings.
Methods: So far, there are no blood-based molecular biomarkers of TLE to support clinical diagnosis,
despite the pathogenic mechanisms underlying TLE involving defects in the regulation of gene expression.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as important post-transcriptional regulators of gene
expression.
Results: Recent studies show the feasibility of detecting miRNAs in body fluids; circulating miRNAs
have emerged as potential clinical biomarkers in epilepsy, although the TLE miRNA profile needs to
be addressed. Here, we analysed the diagnostic potential of 8 circulating miRNAs in sera of 52 TLE
patients and 40 age- and sex-matched donor controls by RT-qPCR analyses.
Conclusion: We found that miR-34a-5p, -106b-5p, -130a-3p, -146a-5p, and -19a-3p are differently
expressed in TLE compared to control subjects, suggesting a diagnostic role. Furthermore, we found
that miR-34a-5p, -106b-5p, -146a-5p and miR-451a could become prognostic biomarkers, being differentially
expressed between drug-resistant and drug-responsive TLE subjects. Therefore, serum
miRNAs are diagnostic and drug-resistance predictive molecules of TLE.