MiRNA expression profiles in the hippocampi of immature rats following status epilepticus

Status epilepticus (SE) can cause damage to brain regions such as the hippocampus and can result in cognitive deficits and the pathogenesis of epilepsy. Moreover, special attention has been paid to children with epilepsy because of the high risk of impaired mental developmental and physical comorbidities. To date, miRNA expression in the developing hippocampus following SE has not been well characterized. In the present study, we investigated miRNA expression patterns in post-SE immature rats (24 h after status). Through miRNA array and differential analysis, 30 up-regulated miRNAs and 21 down-regulated miRNAs in developing rat hippocampi were identified. Six randomly selected up-regulated (miR-31b, 145-3p and let-7d-3p) and down-regulated (miR-96-5p, 182, 301b-3p) miRNAs were examined by qRT-PCR, and the results proved the accuracy of the miRNA array. Moreover, targets of these deregulated miRNAs were analyzed using the miRWalk database, showing that the identified enriched metabolic pathway and MAPK signaling pathway were involved in the molecular mechanisms underlying epileptogenesis. In conclusion, the present study provides clues for enhancing our understanding of the mechanisms and roles of miRNAs as key regulators of epileptogenesis.