Effect of a novel prolonged febrile seizure model on GABA associated ion channels

Changes of serum metabolomics and gut microbiota reveal specific characteristics of children with febrile seizures

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Febrile seizures (FS) pose a severe threat to the neurological development of children. Probing the abnormality of host metabolism is essential for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of FS.

METHODS

Based on clinically collected serum and fecal samples, we used nontargeted metabolomics and 16S rDNA sequencing to explore the relationship of serum metabolite levels and gut microbiota community with the occurrence of FS.

RESULTS

Metabolomic analysis revealed abnormalities in multiple metabolic pathways in serum of FS patients, such as tryptophan metabolism and steroid hormone biosynthesis. Intestinal flora analysis indicated that the α-diversity of gut microbiota in FS patients was significantly reduced. In addition, the relative abundance of a variety of bacteria at the phylum level was remarkably changed in patients with FS, including decreased Firmicutes and Verrucomicrobia. Eleven serum metabolites were identified to be biomarker candidates for FS diagnosis. With the help of a panel biomarker strategy combining four biomarkers as a cluster, four bacteria (i.e., Rothia, Coprococcus, Lactobacillus, and Oscillospira) in a defined panel displayed perfect differentiation of subtypes of FS.

CONCLUSIONS

Combining metabolomic and intestinal flora analysis revealed specific characteristics of children with FS, and provided new clues for the diagnosis of FS and the classification of seizure types. In summary, these findings may provide new insights into revealing the significance of serum metabolites and gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of FS.

The long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of febrile seizures and underlying mechanisms

Febrile seizures (FSs) are convulsions caused by a sudden increase in body temperature during a fever. FSs are one of the commonest presentations in young children, occurring in up to 4% of children between the ages of about 6 months and 5 years old. FSs not only endanger children's health, cause panic and anxiety to families, but also have many adverse consequences. Both clinical and animal studies show that FSs have detrimental effects on neurodevelopment, that cause attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), increased susceptibility to epilepsy, hippocampal sclerosis and cognitive decline during adulthood. However, the mechanisms of FSs in developmental abnormalities and disease occurrence during adulthood have not been determined. This article provides an overview of the association of FSs with neurodevelopmental outcomes, outlining both the underlying mechanisms and the possible appropriate clinical biomarkers, from histological changes to cellular molecular mechanisms. The hippocampus is the brain region most significantly altered after FSs, but the motor cortex and subcortical white matter may also be involved in the development disorders induced by FSs. The occurrence of multiple diseases after FSs may share common mechanisms, and the long-term role of inflammation and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system are currently well studied.

Liraglutide Is Protective against Brain Injury in Mice with Febrile Seizures by Inhibiting Inflammatory Factors

The febrile seizure (FS) is a common disease in emergency pediatrics, and about 30% of patients are children aged between 6 months and 5 years. Therefore, we aim to observe the protective impact of liraglutide (LIR) on brain injury in mice with FS and to explore its relevant mechanisms. Male SD mice were selected, and the FS model was established by heat bath method. The behavioral score was performed on mice with Racine grading, and nerve cells in apoptosis in the hippocampus were determined by TUNEL. The content of glutamate was determined by ELISA. mRNA levels and protein expression of GLP-1, GLP-1R, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and cleaved-caspase 3 were examined in mice by q-PCR and WB. Protein expression of γ-aminobutyric acid was influenced by WB as well. LIR prolonged the seizure latency and seizure duration in mice with FS. The GLP-1 and GLP-1R in the mouse hippocampus with FS expressed highly and also inhibited the number of nerve cells in apoptosis, decreased glutamate content, and increased γ-aminobutyric acid expression in the mouse hippocampus with FS. In addition, The IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, in the mouse hippocampus with FS expressed to reduce with LIR. LIR is protective against brain injury in mice with FS and protects brain injury by inhibiting inflammatory factors in mice with FS. Our finding provides a reference for mitigating and delaying the development of FS as well as the prevention and treatment of brain injury caused by FS.

Seizures Related to Influenza in Pediatric Patients: A Comparison with Seizures Associated with Other Respiratory Viral Infections

Although febrile seizures are the most common neurological complications of influenza, there are few studies comparing seizure characteristics and outcomes between patients with influenza and those with other respiratory virus (RV) infections. Medical records of pediatric patients presenting with seizures accompanied by fever, in whom RV infections were identified, were retrospectively reviewed to compare the characteristics and outcomes of seizures with fever due to influenza (n = 97) to those due to other RV infections (n = 113). Patients with influenza were older than those with other RV infections (p < 0.001), and 22.7% of them were aged ≥5 years. Seizure characteristics of complex febrile seizures were observed more frequently in patients with other RV infections than in those with influenza; however, the frequency of epilepsy was comparable between the two groups. For patients with influenza, children aged <5 years and those aged ≥5 years showed similar seizure characteristics and outcomes. Further neurological evaluations should not be based solely on patient age in children with influenza who experience late-onset seizures at ≥5 years of age. Long-term sequelae should be further investigated in these patients.