Febrile Seizures: Characterization of Double-Stranded RNA-Induced Gene Expression

An association has long been suspected between febrile seizures and interleukin-1β, the most potent endogenous pyrogen. Interleukin-1β production increases after double-stranded RNA stimulation in leukocytes of febrile seizure patients. To elucidate the genetics of the immune response, the gene expression pattern after double-stranded RNA stimulation was investigated using DNA microarray. Compared with the control group, expression of the genes ACCN4 (sodium channel), KCNC3 (potassium channel), GABRE (γ-aminobutyric acid receptor ɛ subunit), RIPK2 (receptor interacting protein kinase-2), TLR4 (toll-like receptor-4), IL26 (interleukin-26), and TNF (tumor necrosis factor), and CASP1 (caspase-1) was increased in the febrile seizure group (P < 0.01). Because RIPK2 and CASP1 are associated with interleukin-1β production, increased expression might cause increased interleukin-1β production in the febrile seizure patients. The induced expression of several ion channel genes by double-stranded RNA may affect neuronal excitability which leads to seizure susceptibility during infection.