Mesenchymal stem cells modulate the gene expression of T- type Calcium Channel Subunit Alpha 1G (Cav3.1) in acute phase of epilepsy

Abstract

Introduction: Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE) is a disorder caused by neuronal electrical imbalance, clinically manifested by spontaneous and recurrent seizures1,2. Its pathogenesis involves channelopathies of calcium channels, which contributes to hyperexcitability and hypersynchrony in TLE3 . About 30% of patients do not respond to drug treatment4 , making it necessary to develop new therapeutic alternatives, such as cell therapy. This work aimed to evaluate the modulation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the calcium channel CACNA1G (Cav3.1) gene expression. Methods: MSCs were extracted from Wistar rats bone marrow and then cultured and transplanted intravenously and intranasally in the control and epileptic groups. The brain was collected 1 and 7 days after transplantation to analyze gene expression. Results: The analysis showed that treated animals had greater gene expression, compared to animals not treated in the epileptic and control group, in both days and administration routes. Furthermore, epileptic animals that were not treated had a low or negative expression of the gene. The epileptic rats that were treated, on the other hand, had a marked increase in gene expression e in the prefrontal cortex. Conclusion: This up-regulation noted on the treated groups raises the hypothesis that MSCs would be using these channels to modify the microenvironment5 , intensifying Cav.3.1 transcription and contributing to tissue regeneration by neurodifferentiation6,7. This is supported by the increase in the calcium influx present in the early stages of neuronal maturation8,9. Thus, MSCs can modulate gene expression in the pilocarpine-induced animal’s brain, making Cav3.1 a target to be explored in epilepsy.