Study on the expression and mechanism of miRNA-155 in epileptic patients

ObjectiveTo detect the expression levels of miR-155 in brain tissue samples of epileptic patient, and analyze the association between miR-155 and pathogenesis of epilepsy.

MethodsThe expression levels of miR-155 and GABRA1 in 55 brain tissue samples of epilepsy patients and 55 brain tissue samples of cerebral hemorrhage patients were detected using qRT-PCR, and the correlation between the expression of miR-155 and GABRA1 was analyzed.The rat epilepsy model was established, the mRNA expression of miR-155 and GABRA1 was determined using qRT-PCR, and the correlation between the expression of miR-155 and GABRA1 was analyzed.Targetscan was used to analyze whether GABRA1 was a target gene of miR-155, 3'-UTR of GABRA1, the mutant 3'-UTR was inserted into psicheck2S vector, and then transfected into HepG2 cells.Luciferase assay was used to determine whether GABRA1 combined with miR-155 in HepG2 cells treated with miR-155 mimic.

ResultsThe expression levels of miR-155 and GABRA1 in brain tissue samples of epilepsy patients significantly increased(P < 0.01), and the expression levels of miR-155 were positively correlated with GABRA1(P < 0.01).The expression levels of miR-155 and GABRA1 in the brain tissue of rat epilepsy model significantly increased(P < 0.01), and the expression levels of miR-155 were positively correlated with GABRA1(P < 0.01).The luciferase activity of HepG2 cells transfected with 3'-UTR of GABRA1 was significantly higher than that of HepG2 cells transfected with mutation 3'-UTR(P < 0.01).

ConclusionsThe miR-155 level significantly increases in brain samples of epilepsy patients, which may be involved in the pathological and physiological process of epilepsy by regulating the expression of GABRA1.