Role of lncRNAs and circRNAs in epilepsy

Epilepsy is a chronic disorder of with a high prevalence and extensive health burden in almost all age groups of the population. This condition is resulted from disturbance in the balance between excitatory and inhibitory factors in the brain. Genetic elements that affect synaptic connectivity, receptors functions or ion channels have been shown to predispose individuals to the epilepsy. More recently, a body of evidence points to the role of non-coding part of the transcriptome in the pathology of epilepsy. Expression levels of NEAT1, H19, PVT1, ILF3-AS1, GAS5, ZFAS1, UCA1, MALAT1 and SNHG1 have been changed in epileptic patients or animal models of epilepsy. Moreover, circ_ANKMY2, circRNA-0067835 and circHivep2 are among circRNAs which are involved in the pathogenesis of epilepsy. Although the mechanistical impact of these transcripts in the pathogenesis of epilepsy has not been fully explored, disturbances in neuron plasticity, apoptosis or differentiation might be implicated in this process. Expression levels of lncRNAs can be used for discrimination of epileptic patients from normal controls or refractory patients from non-refractory ones. JAK/STAT, Wnt, PI3K/AKT and NF-κB signaling pathways are among the regulated pathways by lncRNAs in the context of epilepsy. In the present review, we summarize the role of lncRNAs and circRNAs in the pathogenesis of epilepsy.