MicroRNAs as potential biomarkers for childhood epilepsy

BACKGROUND: Epilepsy is the most frequent chronic neurologic condition in childhood. Its clinical diagnosis is based on electroencephalograms (EEG) and neuroimaging techniques. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) modulate gene expression of several genes and are aberrantly expressed in several diseases. AIM: Evaluation of using circulating miR-106b and miR-146a as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in children patients with epilepsy. METHODS: Thirty epileptic children and twenty controls were enrolled in our study. They were assessed for the expression pattern of miR-106b and miR-146a in plasma using quantitative real-time PCR and determination of plasma Immunoglobulin levels. RESULTS: MiR-146a and miR-106b expression patterns were significantly up-regulated in children patients than that in normal controls. Plasma Immunoglobulins were differentially expressed in epileptic patients in comparison with healthy controls. No correlations were found between expression levels of miRNAs (miR-146a and miR-106b) and clinical data or immunoglobulin levels in children patients with epilepsy. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that up-regulated plasma miR-106b and miR-146a could be used as biomarkers for epilepsy evaluation.