LTBP1 Gene Expression in the Cerebral Cortex and its Neuroprotective Mechanism in Mice with Postischemic Stroke Epilepsy

Objective: This study aimed at exploring the expression level of LTBP1 in the mouse model of epilepsy. The mechanism of LTBP1 in epileptic cerebral neural stem cells was deeply investigated to control the occurrence of epilepsy with neuroprotection. Methods: qRT-PCR was conducted for the expression levels of LTBP1 in clinical human epileptic tissues and neural stem cells as well as normal cerebral tissues and neural stem cells. The mouse model of Postischemic stroke epilepsy (PSE) was established by the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Then, qRT-PCR was conducted again for the expression levels of LTBP1 in mouse epileptic tissues and neural stem cells as well as normal cerebral tissues and neural stem cells. The activation and inhibitory vectors of LTBP1 were constructed to detect the effects of LTBP1 on the proliferation of cerebral neural stem cells in the PSE model combined with CCK-8. Finally, Western blot was conducted for the specific mechanism of LTBP1 affecting the development of epileptic cells. Results: Racine score and epilepsy index of 15 mice showed epilepsy symptoms after the determination with MCAO, showing a successful establishment of the PSE model. LTBP1 expression in both diseased epileptic tissues and cells was higher than those in normal clinical epileptic tissues and cells. Meanwhile, qRT-PCR showed higher LTBP1 expression in both mouse epileptic tissues and their neural stem cells compared with those in normal tissues and cells. CCK-8 showed that the activation of LTBP1 stimulated the increased proliferative capacity of epileptic cells, while the inhibition of LTBP1 expression controlled the proliferation of epileptic cells. Western blot showed an elevated expression of TGFβ/SMAD signaling pathway-associated protein SMAD1/5/8 after activating LTBP1. The expression of molecular MMP-13 associated with the occurrence of inflammation was also activated. Conclusion: LTBP1 can affect the changes in inflammation-related pathways by activating TGFβ/SMAD signaling pathway, stimulate the development of epilepsy, and the inhibition of LTBP1 expression can control the occurrence of epilepsy, with neuroprotection.