Neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in patients with drug-resistant complex focal seizures

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In epilepsy drug-resistant has been postulated the action of mechanisms of death by apoptosis after phenomena of oxidative stress and inflammation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the concentrations of NFkB and p-JNK in tissue of patients with focal complex seizures (CFC) and determine the relationship of them with stress oxidative and inflammation parameters.

METHODS: We evaluated parameters of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, MDA, superoxide dismutase, SOD and catalase CAT) in neocortical tissue of patients with CFC and tissue samples from patients controls (deceased for non-neurological causes). NFkB and p-JNK was determined by Western blott technique while the MDA, the CAT and SOD were evaluated by spectrophotometry.
RESULTS: It was observed an increase in proteins: p-JNK and NFkB (p<0.001) and MDA (p <0.002), and a decrease in the CAT (p<0.002). There is a correlation positive of the p-JNK with the CAT (r = 0.892, p < 0.04), the SOD (r = 0.8801, p<0.04) and the MDA (r = 0.8817, p<0.004).

CONCLUSIONS: The NFkB and p-JNK respond to stimuli of oxidative stress and inflammation and are involved in the molecular cascade of neuronal death processes that occur in patients with CFC resistant described above.