Dynamic up-regulation of prodynorphin transcription in temporal lobe epilepsy.
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.
Pirker
Susanne
S
Department of Pharmacology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
Gasser
Elisabeth
E
Czech
Thomas
T
Baumgartner
Christoph
C
Schuh
Elisabeth
E
Feucht
Martha
M
Novak
Klaus
K
Zimprich
Fritz
F
Sperk
Günther
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018891:Dentate Gyrus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004174:Diprenorphine; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D004745:Enkephalins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004174:Diprenorphine; C033660:preproenkephalin