Journal Article Epublish
PubMed: 40600194 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2025.1582255
Development of patient-specific iPSC-based epilepsy models and identification of differentially expressed genes for disease mechanisms.
Front Neurosci 19:1582255
Authors: Jianfeng Wu, Siqi Huang, Lihao Chen, Yinghong Yang, Shunhan Zhang, Jiajia Xian, Xiaoyan Ma, Furong Ma, Shaoying Li, Yi Yang, Yingjun Xie, Xiaofang Sun
Affiliations
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Higher Education Joint Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Higher Education Joint Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Experimental Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Institute, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, Guangdong Center for Provincial Clinical Research Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Experimental Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Institute, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Abstract
Introduction
Epilepsy is a complex neurodegenerative disorder characterized by recurrent seizures, which poses significant challenges for clinical management and therapeutic development. Recent advances in stem cell biology have enabled the use of patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) as a novel in vitro model for studying human diseases, including neurological disorders. In particular, iPSCs offer a promising platform for investigating the molecular mechanisms of epilepsy and facilitating personalized medicine.
Methods
In this study, we generated iPSC lines from individuals diagnosed with epilepsy who carry a novel mutation in the CLCNKB gene. These patient-derived iPSCs were reprogrammed from somatic cells and subsequently characterized. To explore the molecular alterations associated with epilepsy, we performed transcriptomic profiling using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Differential gene expression analysis was conducted to compare the patient-derived iPSCs with control iPSC lines.
Results
The RNA-seq analysis revealed a set of differentially expressed genes in epilepsy-derived iPSCs, with both upregulated and downregulated genes identified relative to controls. Several of these genes have previously been implicated in epilepsy-related phenotypes, as supported by published literature. This suggests a potential role for these genes in the pathophysiology of epilepsy linked to CLCNKB mutations.
Discussion
The successful establishment of CLCNKB-mutant patient-specific iPSC lines and their transcriptomic characterization provide a valuable tool for studying the molecular basis of epilepsy. These findings underscore the potential of iPSC-based models to advance our understanding of disease mechanisms and support the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Moreover, this study demonstrates the applicability of iPSCs for epilepsy research and their promise in the field of personalized medicine.
MeSH
Cells, Genes, Epilepsy, Microscopy, Electron, Scanning Transmission, Stem Cells, Precision Medicine, Therapeutics, Mutation