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.
Department of Pharmacology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
Susanne
S
Pirker
Elisabeth
E
Gasser
Thomas
T
Czech
Christoph
C
Baumgartner
Elisabeth
E
Schuh
Martha
M
Feucht
Klaus
K
Novak
Fritz
F
Zimprich
Günther
G
Sperk
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