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The Journal of Neuroscience, May 27, 2009, 29(21):6964-6972; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0066-09.2009

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Neurobiology of Disease
The Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Signaling Pathway Mediates Epileptogenesis in a Model of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Ling-Hui Zeng, Nicholas R. Rensing, and Michael Wong

Department of Neurology and the Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110

Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Michael Wong, Department of Neurology, Box 8111, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110. Email: wong_m{at}wustl.edu

Understanding molecular mechanisms mediating epileptogenesis is critical for developing more effective therapies for epilepsy. We recently found that the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway is involved in epileptogenesis, and mTOR inhibitors prevent epilepsy in a mouse model of tuberous sclerosis complex. Here, we investigated the potential role of mTOR in a rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy initiated by status epilepticus. Acute kainate-induced seizures resulted in biphasic activation of the mTOR pathway, as evident by an increase in phospho-S6 (P-S6) expression. An initial rise in P-S6 expression started 1 h after seizure onset, peaked at 3–6 h, and returned to baseline by 24 h in both hippocampus and neocortex, reflecting widespread stimulation of mTOR signaling by acute seizure activity. After resolution of status epilepticus, a second increase in P-S6 was observed in hippocampus only, which started at 3 d, peaked 5–10 d, and persisted for several weeks after kainate injection, correlating with the development of chronic epileptogenesis within hippocampus. The mTOR inhibitor rapamycin, administered before kainate, blocked both the acute and chronic phases of seizure-induced mTOR activation and decreased kainate-induced neuronal cell death, neurogenesis, mossy fiber sprouting, and the development of spontaneous epilepsy. Late rapamycin treatment, after termination of status epilepticus, blocked the chronic phase of mTOR activation and reduced mossy fiber sprouting and epilepsy but not neurogenesis or neuronal death. These findings indicate that mTOR signaling mediates mechanisms of epileptogenesis in the kainate rat model and that mTOR inhibitors have potential antiepileptogenic effects in this model.

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Received Jan. 6, 2009; revised Jan. 28, 2009; accepted April 29, 2009.

Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Michael Wong, Department of Neurology, Box 8111, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110. Email: wong_m{at}wustl.edu

Related articles in J. Neurosci.:

mTOR Signaling in Epileptogenesis: Too Much of a Good Thing?

Ruifeng Cao, Aiqing Li, and Hee-Yeon Cho
J. Neurosci. 2009 29: 12372-12373. [Full Text]  

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. Cao, A. Li, and H.-Y. Cho mTOR Signaling in Epileptogenesis: Too Much of a Good Thing? J. Neurosci., October 7, 2009; 29(40): 12372 - 12373. [Full Text] [PDF]

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