Dynamic up-regulation of prodynorphin transcription in temporal lobe epilepsy

• Published in: Hippocampus Vol. 19; no. 11; pp. 1051 - 1054
• Main Authors: Pirker, Susanne, Gasser, Elisabeth, Czech, Thomas, Baumgartner, Christoph, Schuh, Elisabeth, Feucht, Martha, Novak, Klaus, Zimprich, Fritz, Sperk, Günther
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01-11-2009
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Carbon Isotopes; Child; Child, Preschool; Dentate Gyrus - metabolism; Dentate Gyrus - physiopathology; Diprenorphine; dynorphin; Enkephalins - genetics; Enkephalins - metabolism; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe - genetics; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe - pathology; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe - physiopathology; Female; Genotype; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; neuropeptides; Polymorphism, Genetic; Postmortem Changes; Protein Precursors - genetics; Protein Precursors - metabolism; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; seizure protection; seizures; temporal lobe epilepsy; Up-Regulation - physiology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1050-9631; 1098-1063
• DOI: 10.1002/hipo.20633

Dynorphin neuropeptides are believed to act as endogenous anticonvulsants, though direct evidence for such a role in humans is sparse. We now report pronounced increases of prodynorphin mRNA expression in the dentate gyrus of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy in comparison to controls. We detected a conspicuously right skewed, bimodal distribution of mRNA levels among patients, suggestive of a dynamic up‐regulation of prodynorphin expression in epilepsy. Highest transcript levels were seen postictally. Our data argue for an essential role of dynorphin in the termination of seizures. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.