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MicroRNAs in temporal lobe epilepsy: a systematic review

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Abstract

Objective

About 30% of patients with epilepsy have drug-resistant seizures. The aim of the current endeavor was to systematically review the existing evidence on the potential applications of microRNAs as biomarkers in people with difficult to treat temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE).

Methods

MEDLINE (accessed from PubMed) and Scopus from inception to March 18, 2020 were systematically searched for related published articles. In both electronic databases, the following search strategy was implemented, and these keywords (in the title/abstract) were used: “microRNA” AND “temporal lobe epilepsy.” Articles written in English that were human studies in people with epilepsy were all included in this search.

Results

We could identify 16 articles about different aspects of microRNAs in the serum of patients with TLE. However, only three studies robustly investigated microRNAs as potential biomarkers in the diagnosis of drug-resistant TLE (microRNA-155 (upregulated), microRNA-129-2-3p (upregulated), microRNA-153 (downregulated)). One small study provided class II, and two small studies provided class III evidence.

Conclusion

While this systematic review identified three studies that provided some evidence on the potential applications of circulating serum microRNAs as biomarkers in people with drug-resistant TLE, the evidence is not robust yet. While these findings provide a new horizon, substantial challenges remain before the roles of microRNAs as biomarkers in the diagnosis of drug-resistant TLE can be translated into clinical practice.

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Funding

The Epilepsy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences supported this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Epilepsy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

    Ali A. Asadi-Pooya, Amir Tajbakhsh & Amir Savardashtaki

  2. Jefferson Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Ali A. Asadi-Pooya

  3. Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

    Amir Savardashtaki

Authors
  1. Ali A. Asadi-Pooya
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Contributions

Study Design: Ali A. Asadi-Pooya MD; Data collection: Ali A. Asadi-Pooya, MD; Amir Tajbakhsh, PhD, and Amir Savardashtaki, PhD; statistical analysis:--; data interpretation: Ali A. Asadi-Pooya, MD and Amir Tajbakhsh, PhD; manuscript preparation: Ali A. Asadi-Pooya, MD, Amir Tajbakhsh, PhD, and Amir Savardashtaki, PhD; literature search: Ali A. Asadi-Pooya, MD, Amir Tajbakhsh, PhD, and Amir Savardashtaki, PhD; funds collection: Ali A. Asadi-Pooya, MD.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ali A. Asadi-Pooya.

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Conflict of interest

Ali A. Asadi-Pooya: Honoraria from Cobel Daruo, Tekaje, and RaymandRad; Royalty: Oxford University Press (Book publication); grant from the National Institute for Medical Research Development. The other authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Appendix

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Table 2 American Academy of Neurology criteria for classification of evidence in studies of causation
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Asadi-Pooya, A.A., Tajbakhsh, A. & Savardashtaki, A. MicroRNAs in temporal lobe epilepsy: a systematic review. Neurol Sci 42, 571–578 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-020-05016-x

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