Systems genetics identifies Sestrin 3 as a regulator of a proconvulsant gene network in human epileptic hippocampus

Nat Commun. 2015 Jan 23:6:6031. doi: 10.1038/ncomms7031.

Abstract

Gene-regulatory network analysis is a powerful approach to elucidate the molecular processes and pathways underlying complex disease. Here we employ systems genetics approaches to characterize the genetic regulation of pathophysiological pathways in human temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Using surgically acquired hippocampi from 129 TLE patients, we identify a gene-regulatory network genetically associated with epilepsy that contains a specialized, highly expressed transcriptional module encoding proconvulsive cytokines and Toll-like receptor signalling genes. RNA sequencing analysis in a mouse model of TLE using 100 epileptic and 100 control hippocampi shows the proconvulsive module is preserved across-species, specific to the epileptic hippocampus and upregulated in chronic epilepsy. In the TLE patients, we map the trans-acting genetic control of this proconvulsive module to Sestrin 3 (SESN3), and demonstrate that SESN3 positively regulates the module in macrophages, microglia and neurons. Morpholino-mediated Sesn3 knockdown in zebrafish confirms the regulation of the transcriptional module, and attenuates chemically induced behavioural seizures in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / genetics*
  • Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Gene Regulatory Networks*
  • Heat-Shock Proteins / genetics*
  • Heat-Shock Proteins / metabolism
  • Hippocampus / pathology*
  • Hippocampus / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Inflammation / genetics
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Macrophages / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Microglia / metabolism
  • Microglia / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Motor Activity
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neurons / pathology
  • Pentylenetetrazole
  • Seizures / genetics*
  • Seizures / physiopathology
  • Young Adult
  • Zebrafish

Substances

  • Heat-Shock Proteins
  • SESN3 protein, human
  • Pentylenetetrazole