Research finds new gene involved in epilepsy

New research conducted by neuroscientists from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) published in Nature Medicine has identified a new gene involved in epilepsy and could potentially provide a new treatment option for patients with epilepsy. 

The research focussed on a new class of gene called a 'microRNA' which controls protein production inside cells. The research looked in detail at one particular microRNA called 'microRNA-134' and found that levels of microRNA-134 are much higher in the part of the brain that causes seizures in patients with epilepsy.   

By using a new type of drug-like molecule called an antagomir which locks onto the 'microRNA-134' and removes it from the brain cell, the researchers found they could prevent epileptic seizures from occurring.

Professor David Henshall, Department of Physiology & Medical Physics, RCSI and senior author on the paper said 'We have been looking to find what goes wrong inside brain cells to trigger epilepsy. Our research has discovered a completely new gene linked to epilepsy and it shows how we can target this gene using drug-like molecules to reduce the brain's susceptibility to seizures and the frequency in which they occur."

Dr Eva Jimenez-Mateos, Department of Physiology & Medical Physics, RCSI and first author on the paper said "Our research found that the antagomir drug protects the brain cells from toxic effects of prolonged seizures and the effects of the treatment can last up to one month."

Source: http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/nm.2834.html