Relationship between Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha and Neuropeptide Y Expression and Neurological Function Score in Epileptic Children

Abstract

Background: To observe the relationship between Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) and Neuropeptide Y (NPY) expression and neurological function score in epileptic children.
 Methods: Fifty-four epileptic children diagnosed and treated in Xuzhou Children's Hospital, China from Feb 2017 to Mar 2018 were collected and included in a research group (RG), while 30 healthy children who underwent physical examination at the same time were included in the control group (CG). ELISA was used to detect the expression of TNF-α and NPY in the serum of children in the two groups, and those before treatment were compared. The National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) and Hamilton Anxiety (HAMA) scores before and after treatment were observed, and Pearson correlation was used to analyze the relationship between the expression levels of TNF-α and NPY in the serum as well as NIHSS and HAMA scores.
 Results: The expression levels of TNF-α and NPY in the serum of children in the RG were significantly higher than those in the CG (P<0.001). The expression level of TNF-α was positively correlated with the NIHSS and HAMA scores (r=0.748, P<0.001) (r=0.772, P<0.001). The expression level of NPY was positively correlated with the NIHSS and HAMA scores (r=0.768, P<0.001) (r=0.643, P<0.001).
 Conclusion: TNF-α and NPY are highly expressed in epileptic children and are positively correlated with neurological function score.

Serum Neuropeptide Y: A Potential Prognostic Marker of Intracerebral Hemorrhage

“…The above studies all suggest that NPY plays an important function in neurodegenerative diseases. A recent Chinese study showed that the level of NPY in peripheral blood of epileptic children was significantly increased and was positively correlated with NIHSS score and Hamilton Anxiety (HAMA) scores, suggesting that NPY is involved in the onset of epilepsy [ 23 ]. A study by Peking University showed that plasma NPY is significantly reduced in Vasovagal Syncope, which may participate in the pathogenesis of Vasovagal Syncope by increasing total peripheral vascular resistance and reducing cardiac output [ 24 ].…”