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A systems approach delivers a functional microRNA catalog and expanded targets for seizure suppression in temporal lobe epilepsy

Heller, Janosch Peter et al. orcid logoORCID: 0000-0002-8825-3787 (2020) A systems approach delivers a functional microRNA catalog and expanded targets for seizure suppression in temporal lobe epilepsy. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117 (27). ISSN 1873-7544

Abstract
Temporal lobe epilepsy is the most common drug-resistant form of epilepsy in adults.The reorganization of neural networks and the gene expression landscape underlying pathophysiologic network behavior in brain structures such as the hippocampus has been suggested to be controlled, in part, by microRNAs. To systematically assess their significance, we sequenced Argonaute-loaded microRNAs to define functionally engaged microRNAs in the hippocampus of three different animal models in two species and at six time points between the initial precipitating insult through to the establishment of chronic epilepsy. We then selected commonly up-regulated microRNAs for a functional in vivo therapeutic screen using oligonucleotide inhibitors. Argonaute sequencing generated 1.44 billion small RNA reads of which up to 82% were microRNAs, with over 400 unique microRNAs detected per model. Approximately half of the detected microRNAs were dysregulated in each epilepsy model. We prioritized commonly up-regulated microRNAs that were fully conserved in humans and designed custom antisense oligonucleotides for these candidate targets. Antiseizure phenotypes were observed upon knockdown of miR-10a-5p, miR-21a-5p, and miR-142a-5p and electrophysiological analyses indicated broad safety of this approach. Combined inhibition of these three microRNAs reduced spontaneous seizures in epileptic mice. Proteomic data and pathway analysis on predicted and validated targets of these microRNAs implicated derepressed TGF-β signaling as a shared seizure-modifying mechanism. Correspondingly, inhibition of TGF-β signaling occluded the antiseizure effects of the antagomirs. Together, these results identify shared, dysregulated, and functionally active microRNAs during the pathogenesis of epilepsy which represent therapeutic antiseizure targets.
Metadata
Item Type:Article (Published)
Refereed:Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords:Antisense oligonucleotide; biomarker; epigenetic; epilepsy; noncoding RNA
Subjects:Biological Sciences > Biochemistry
Humanities > Biological Sciences > Biochemistry
Biological Sciences > Biotechnology
Humanities > Biological Sciences > Biotechnology
DCU Faculties and Centres:DCU Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Science and Health
DCU Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Science and Health > School of Biotechnology
Publisher:Elsevier Ltd
Official URL:https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1919313117
Copyright Information:Authors
ID Code:31131
Deposited On:10 Jun 2025 14:16 by Vidatum Academic . Last Modified 10 Jun 2025 14:16
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