Calcineurin, bax and Bcl2 expression in children with idiopathic epilepsy

Abstract EN

Background: Little published studies were done to investigate the balance between proapoptotic and antiapoptotic protein expression in the sera of epileptic patients.

Aims: to determine level of expression of proapoptotic proteins calcineurin, and Bax and antiapoptotic protein Bcl2 in sera of epileptic children (before and 6 months after intiation of AEDs) and compare their levels to healthy controls , and to correlate the results with the type of seizure, disease onset, severity and duration.

Methods: The study included 30 children and adolescents (6.5 ± 3.4 years), they were 18 males and 12 females, with idiopathic epilepsy.

Apparently healthy 30 children and adolescents were recruited in the study as a control group.

Of the included patients, 5 had focal seizures and 25 had generalized seizures.

In addition to laboratory and radiological investigations needed for diagnosis and follow-up, calcineurin and Bax relative expression in mononuclear cells as well as Bcl-2 were assayed in sera of patients (initially and 6 months following AEDS intiation) and controls by PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique.

Results: Proapoptotic protein, Calcineurin and Bax relative expression in mononuclear cells were significantly increased in newly diagnosed epileptic patients compared to the control group; Also, we found that the Bax relative expression has significantly decreased in epileptic patient group 6 month following AED intiation.

Antiapoptotic protein, Bcl2 was significantly decreased in new epileptic patient group (prior to AED start) compared to the control group , this significant decrease in Bcl2 continued 6 months following AED commencement when compared to the control group; However, the antiapoptotic protein Bcl2 has significantly increased in the patient group following AED commencement.

No significant relation was detected when comparing any of the studied proapoptotic and antiapoptotic markers with the seizure type and control.

Conclusion: our results show overexpression of serum levels of proapoptotic markers Calcineurin and Bax together with decrease of serum Bcl-2, as one of the anti-apoptotic markers in patients with idiopathic epilepsy on intial diagnosis, and the reverse occurred 6 months after AEDs and seizure control.