Dados do Trabalho

Título

MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS MODULATE THE GENE EXPRESSION OF T-TYPE CALCIUM CHANNEL SUBUNIT ALPHA 1G IN EXPERIMENTAL EPILEPSY

Introdução

Epilepsy is a disease that affects the Central Nervous System (CNS), causing rhythmic and synchronized shots in the population of neurons, generating seizures. It´s estimates that 30% of patients are refractory to drug treatment. The Voltage-dependent calcium channels (Cav), known as type T calcium channels, are membrane proteins with three isoforms, CAGNA1G is one of them. The generation of seizures can be caused by the abnormal intrinsic function, causing the deregulation of Cav. Therefore, the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be used as a possible treatment once they mediate regulatory responses in the body.

Objetivo

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of MSCs transplantation on gene expression of the CACNA1G gene in different brain structures.

Método

To verify this hypothesis, analyzes of gene expression were performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Then, the extraction of MSCs was made by washing long bones of young Wistar rats. Later, the MSCs were cultured and characterized. To investigate this treatment, rats were induced to status epilepticus by pilocarpine model, after which they were separated into control and epileptic group. The animals were transplanted by intranasal and intravenous routes. Animals were euthanized 1- and 7-days post-transplant.

Resultados

It was possible to observe that, in relation to the CACNA1G gene, the animals that received the treatment with MSCs had a greater modulation in the expression, when compared to the untreated animals. This increased expression occurred in both routes of administration and both times, in all structures. On the other hand, animals in the untreated Pilo group, both in the temporal analysis (1- and 7-days post-transplantation) and in the routes of administration, showed relatively low or negative expression of CAGNA1G in some structures, demonstrating its weakened expression in crisis-free periods.

Conclusão

We can assume that CACNA1G gene had significant expression in the groups treated with MSCs, in the periods of 1- and 7-days post-transplantation in both routes of administration. In conclusion, MSCs can modulate gene expression in the brain of pilocarpine-induced animals, making an important target to be further explored in epilepsy.

Palavras-chave

Acute epilepsy; Voltage-dependent calcium channels; Mesenchymal stem cell