Research ReportMicroRNAs dysregulation in epilepsy

- MiRNAs are increasingly being implicated in epilepsy.
- A number of specific miRNAs are dysregulated in epilepsy.
- MiRNAs might be useful tools for both diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy.

Epilepsy is a syndrome characterized by recurrent spontaneous seizures due to neuronal hyperactivity in the brain. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs that regulate post-transcriptional expression of protein-coding mRNAs, which may have key roles in the pathogenesis of neurological disorders. Evidence indicates that miRNAs are emerging as a critical new layer of gene expression regulation with implications for the cause and treatment of epilepsy. Accumulating studies in epilepsy suggest that numerous specific miRNAs are dysregulated. Recent studies have explored several target genes and pathways of miRNAs in order to find out therapeutic approaches to epilepsy. Here, we review current findings regarding miRNA research in humans and animal models to provide a solid foundation for further research aiming at understanding the potential contribution of miRNAs to epilepsy pathophysiology.This article is part of a Special Issue entitled RNA Metabolism 2013.