Exploratory analysis of cell-free miRNA expression changes in patients with isolated first seizure and new-onset epilepsy
Abstract
One in ten individuals will experience a seizure in their lives, but only 43%–61% will be diagnosed with new-onset epilepsy (NOE). Existing methods to distinguish between a first unprovoked seizure and a diagnosis of epilepsy are inadequate and often lead to unnecessary treatment with antiseizure medications. To uncover potential targets associated with NOE, we analyzed cell-free circulating miRNA expression in plasma samples obtained from 20 patients who presented with a first unprovoked seizure. Patients were monitored for 2 years following their initial seizure, and a total of 7 patients experienced a second seizure within the follow-up period. Analysis of the miRNA expression levels revealed 15 differentially expressed miRNAs between patients who experienced only a first unprovoked seizure versus those who had a second seizure. These 15 miRNAs were experimentally linked as regulators to 160 genes related to epilepsy, including genes involved in the mTOR and WNT signaling pathways. These findings highlight a number of key circulating miRNA targets that may be further developed as a biomarker signature in larger cohorts and may offer insights into factors associated with epileptogenesis.
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BibTeX
@article{meng2026exploratory,
title = {{Exploratory analysis of cell-free miRNA expression changes in patients with isolated first seizure and new-onset epilepsy}},
author = {Ryan C. Meng and Alexandra Lesko and Fred Robinson and Elizabeth Baraban and Kai H. Darke and Brian D. Piening and Evan J. Fertig},
journal = {Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fmolb.2026.1788160},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmolb.2026.1788160},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Exploratory analysis of cell-free miRNA expression changes in patients with isolated first seizure and new-onset epilepsy
AU - Ryan C. Meng
AU - Alexandra Lesko
AU - Fred Robinson
AU - Elizabeth Baraban
AU - Kai H. Darke
AU - Brian D. Piening
AU - Evan J. Fertig
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences
DO - 10.3389/fmolb.2026.1788160
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmolb.2026.1788160
AB - One in ten individuals will experience a seizure in their lives, but only 43%–61% will be diagnosed with new-onset epilepsy (NOE). Existing methods to distinguish between a first unprovoked seizure and a diagnosis of epilepsy are inadequate and often lead to unnecessary treatment with antiseizure medications. To uncover potential targets associated with NOE, we analyzed cell-free circulating miRNA expression in plasma samples obtained from 20 patients who presented with a first unprovoked seizure. Patients were monitored for 2 years following their initial seizure, and a total of 7 patients experienced a second seizure within the follow-up period. Analysis of the miRNA expression levels revealed 15 differentially expressed miRNAs between patients who experienced only a first unprovoked seizure versus those who had a second seizure. These 15 miRNAs were experimentally linked as regulators to 160 genes related to epilepsy, including genes involved in the mTOR and WNT signaling pathways. These findings highlight a number of key circulating miRNA targets that may be further developed as a biomarker signature in larger cohorts and may offer insights into factors associated with epileptogenesis.
SN - 2296-889X
ER -