Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disability affecting communication and social behaviors. Research is needed because the percentage of children affected by ASD is 1 in 59, and it is diagnosed in males at a rate of 1 in 42. Animal models must be used, because the neurological changes that lead to ASD occur during prenatal development. In this study, three mouse models were used to represent possible causes of ASD. The BTBR model is a genetically engineered model that displays social behavior deficits and has neuroanatomical findings similar to ASD. The other models include the Poly-IC and valproic acid injected mice which exposes the pregnant mother to a virus activating her immune system or a drug thought to affect brain development, respectively. In all three models the effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor or BDNF, which is an important cytokine in the brain responsible for synaptic plasticity, maintenance and recognition, are being studied via expression levels of NTRK2. BDNF activates cell signaling cascades in glutamatergic neurons via the TrkB receptor which is encoded by the NTRK2 gene. It was previously found that NTRK2 expression was reduced in glutamatergic cells in people affected by ASD. The first outcome of the study is to determine gene expression differences in glutamatergic neurons captured from the cingulate cortex in all three models as well as in wild type control mice. Additionally, a second outcome of the study is to optimize a new protocol for single cell gene expression using a nested PCR method. This was done by comparing the previously used method for relative end-point PCR with the nested method to identify gene expression alterations. To prepare for the two PCR methods, samples were dehydrated and laser capture microdissection was performed on mouse brain tissue to obtain pyramidal neurons from the cingulate area. This area is highly connected to the limbic system and plays a role in personality and communication. All animal procedures were approved by the ETSU animal care committee. RNA isolation was performed on 1000 cells after which RNA was reverse transcribed into cDNA using the Superscript III cDNA synthesis system. Initial optimization experiments included using various amounts of starting cDNA and determining expression differences using relative end-point PCR and Agilent tape station. The same starting cDNA was used and initially 20 cycles of PCR were performed using Prime5 HotStart Master Mix followed by a quantitative PCR reaction using Powerup on the BioRad CFX96 RT detection system. Gene expression was performed using NTRK2 as the target gene and GAPDH as the reference gene for each method. Both methods will allow the detection of changes in the expression levels of NTRK2 and GAPDH when different sample concentrations are used. This data could help establish a link between maternal immune system activation or exposure to certain drugs during pregnancy with the occurrence of ASD.

Les gliomes, tumeurs cérébrales primaires du système nerveux central, sont souvent de pronostic défavorable, d'autant plus que l'absence de critères indiscutables pour les identifier rend leur diagnostic et leur prise en charge particulièrement difficiles. L’analyse conjointe, d’une cohorte française de 64 patients porteurs de gliomes et d’une cohorte internationale de 671 patients issus du TCGA, a permis de mettre en évidence deux groupes pronostiques constitués par un panel d’expression différentielle de 26 gènes (p = 0,007). Cette stratification en deux groupes pronostiques a été confirmée quels que soient le grade et le groupe moléculaire de la tumeur (p < 0,0001). Nous avons établi une nouvelle stratégie diagnostique à partir de la classification moléculaire des gliomes en intégrant deux biomarqueurs pronostiques CHI3L1 et NTRK2. L’analyse multivariée confirme que ces biomarqueurs sont indépendants du statut IDH et du grade tumoral. Si nous avons mis en évidence par l’analyse protéique de CHI3L1 une concordance avec les transcrits, les résultats divergent pour TrkB. Ainsi, une expression élevée de TrkB et son corécepteur p75NTR serait liée à l’agressivité tumorale indépendamment du statut IDH. Enfin, TrkB et p75NTR sont présents aussi bien dans les exosomes issus du plasma de témoins sains et de patients atteints de gliomes mais leur expression augmente en fonction de l’agressivité de la tumeur / Gliomas, primary brain tumours of the central nervous system, are often of poor prognosis.The absence of clear criteria to identify them makes their diagnosis and management particularly difficult. The combined analysis of a cohort of 64 glioma patients and an international cohort of 671 patients from the TCGA revealed two prognostic groups of a differential expression panel of 26 genes (p = 0.007). This stratification into two prognostic groups was confirmed independently of the grade and molecular group of the tumor (p <0.0001). We have established a new diagnostic strategy based on the molecular classification of gliomas by integrating two prognostic biomarkers CHI3L1 and NTRK2. Multivariate analysis confirms that these biomarkers are independent of IDH status and tumor grade.While we have demonstrated by the protein analysis of CHI3L1 concordance with the transcripts, the results are different for TrkB. Therefore, a high expression of TrkB and its p75NTR co-receptor would be associated with tumor aggressiveness regardless of IDH status. Lastly, TrkB and p75NTR are present in exosomes from plasma of healthy controls and glioma patients, but their expression increases with the aggressiveness of tumor.

Introdução O gene NTRK2 codifica um receptor pertencente a família de neurotrofinas Tirosina Kinase, conhecido como TrkB. O TrkB é um receptor de membrana com propriedades relacionadas a sinalização e diferenciação celular que tem sido envolvido em transtornos neuropsiquiátricos. Objetivo Estudar as freqüências de alelos variantes do gene NTRK2 em pacientes com epilepsia do lobo temporal (ELT) comparado a controles sem epilepsia. O impacto desses polimorfismos em variáveis clínicas e psiquiátricas dos pacientes com ELT também foi analisado. Métodos Inicialmente, realizamos estudo de caso-controle comparando as freqüências dos polimorfismos do TrkB em 198 pacientes Brasileiros com origem Européia com ELT e 200 controles sem epilepsia. Na segunda parte, foi avaliado o impacto das variantes alélicas em características clínicas e eletroencefalográficas dos pacientes com epilepsia. Os seguintes polimorfismos foram avaliados: rs1867283A>G, rs10868235C>T, rs1147198G>T, rs11140800A>T, rs1187286G>T, rs2289656A>G, rs1624327A>G, rs1443445A>G, rs3780645C>T, rs2378672C>T. Por fim, 163 pacientes com ELT foram avaliados com uma entrevista psiquiátrica (SCID-I) para detecção de transtornos psiquiátricos ao longo da vida e esses achados foram analisados em relação aos polimorfismos do gene NTRK2. Resultados Pacientes com epilepsia do lobo temporal evidenciaram um aumento significativo de Timina em homozigose no SNP rs10868235 do gene NTRK2 quando comparados ao grupo controle (O.R.=1.90; 95%IC=1.17-3.09; p= 0.01). Não foram encontradas outras diferenças entre pacientes e controles. Pacientes com Adenina em homozigose no SNP rs1443445 do gene NTRK2 tiveram uma média de idade de início de crises mais baixa quando comparados aos demais pacientes (p<0.01). Também observamos que a presença de Timina foi significativamente mais freqüente no SNP rs3780645 do gene NTRK2 em pacientes que necessitam politerapia para o controle de crises se comparados aos que estão em monoterapia. Esse achado pode significar uma maior dificuldade em obter o controle das crises nesse grupo de pacientes (O.R.= 4.13; 95%IC= 1.68-10.29; p= 0.001). Após essa análise, estudamos 163 pacientes com ELT em relação a presença ou não de comorbidades psiquiátricas. A avaliação psiquiátrica foi realizada através da aplicação do SCID-I (Entrevista Clínica Estruturada para Detecção de Transtornos Psiquiátricos de Eixo I do DSM-IV). Setenta e seis pacientes (46.6%) apresentaram transtornos de humor. Sexo feminino, transtorno de ansiedade, genótipo A/A no SNP rs1867283 e genótipo C/C no SNP rs10868235 do gene NTRK2 foram todos fatores independentemente associados com transtornos de humor nesses pacientes Transtornos depressivos foram os que mais contribuíram para esses resultados. Após a regressão logística, fatores de risco independentes para transtornos depressivos em pacientes com ELT foram sexo feminino (OR=2.54; 95%IC=1.18- 5.47; p=0.017), presença de transtorno de ansiedade concomitante (OR=3.30; 95%IC=1.58-6.68; p=0.001), genótipo A/A no SNP rs1867283 do gene NTRK2 (OR=2.84; 95%IC=1.19-6.80; p=0.019), e genótipo C/C no SNP rs10868235 do gene NTRK2 (OR=2.74; IC=1.28-5.88; p=0.010). Conclusões Observamos que pacientes com ELT apresentam uma distribuição alélica distinta do gene NTRK2 quando comparados a controles sem epilepsia e que a variabilidade alélica do NTRK2 influenciou a idade de início de crises e talvez a resposta a terapia farmacológica anticonvulsivante. O sexo feminino, transtornos de ansiedade e variações alélicas no gene NTRK2 foram todos fatores de risco independentes para transtornos de humor ou transtornos depressivos em pacientes com ELT. Até onde temos conhecimento, este é o primeiro estudo evidenciando associações de variantes alélicas do gene NTRK2 em ELT. Acreditamos que outros estudos nessa área ajudarão a elucidar melhor os mecanismos envolvidos na epileptogênese do lobo temporal. Se nossos resultados forem confirmados, as variantes alélicas do gene NTRK2 poderiam ser usadas como um biomarcador para transtornos depressivos em pacientes com ELT. / Introduction The NTRK2 gene encodes a member of the neurotrophic tyrosine kinase family receptor known as TrkB. It is a membrane-associated receptor with signaling and cellular differentiation proprieties that has been involved in neuropsychiatric disorders. Objective Study the frequencies of NTRK2 allele variants in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) compared to controls without epilepsy. The impact of these polymorphisms on major clinical and psychiatric variables in TLE was also explored. Methods A case-control study comparing the frequencies of the TrkB gene polymorphism in 198 TLE Brazilian with European origin patients and in 200 matching controls without epilepsy. In a second step, the impact of allelic variation on major clinical and electroencephalographic variables in epilepsy was evaluated in the group of TLE patients. The following polymorphisms were evaluated: rs1867283A>G, rs10868235C>T, rs1147198G>T, rs11140800A>T, rs1187286G>T, rs2289656A>G, rs1624327A>G, rs1443445A>G, rs3780645C>T, rs2378672C>T. At last, 163 TLE patients were evaluated with a psychiatry interview (SCID-I) to detect lifelong psychiatric comorbidities and this findings were analyzed in relation to NTRK2 polymorphisms. Results Patients with temporal lobe epilepsy showed a significant increase of thymine homozygosis in the rs10868235 NTRK2 SNP when compared with the control group (O.R.=1.90; 95%CI=1.17-3.09; p= 0.01) . There were no other differences between patients and controls. Patients with adenine homozygosis in the rs1443445 NTRK2 SNP showed an earlier mean age of seizure onset when compared with other patients (p<0.01). Also, we observed that thymine was significantly more frequent in the rs3780645 NTRK2 SNP in patients that needed polytheraphy for seizure control when compared to those in monotherapy. This finding perhaps reflects an increased difficulty to exert seizure control in this group of patients (O.R.= 4.13; 95%CI= 1.68-10.29; p= 0.001). We also analyzed 163 patients in the TLE group in relation to presence of psychiatric comorbidities. Psychiatric evaluation was performed using the SCID-I (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, Axis I). Seventy six patients (46.6%) showed mood disorders. Female sex, anxiety disorders, A/A genotype in rs1867283 NTRK2, and C/C genotype in the rs10868235 NTRK2 gene were all independently associated with mood disorders in these patients. Depressive disorders mostly accounted for these results. After logistic regression, independent risk factors for depressive disorder in TLE were female sex (OR=2.54; 95%CI=1.18-5.47; p=0.017), presence of concomitant anxiety disorders (OR=3.30; 95%CI=1.58-6.68; p=0.001), A/A genotype in rs1867283 NTRK2 (OR=2.84; 95%CI=1.19-6.80; p=0.019), and C/C genotype in rs10868235 NTRK2 gene (OR=2.74; 1.28-5.88; p=0.010). Conclusions We observed that patients with epilepsy showed a difference in NTRK2 allelic distribution when compared with controls without epilepsy, and that NTRK2 variability influenced age of seizure onset and perhaps pharmacologic response to seizure control. Female sex, anxiety disorders and allelic variations in NTRK2 gene were all independent risk factors for mood disorder or depressive disorders in TLE. . As far as we know, this is the first study showing an association between NTKR2 allele variants in temporal lobe epilepsy. We believe that other studies in this venue will shade some light on the molecular mechanisms involved in temporal epileptogenesis. If our results were confirmed, NTRK2 gene allele variants could be used as a biomarker for depressive disorders in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy.

Introdução O gene NTRK2 codifica um receptor pertencente a família de neurotrofinas Tirosina Kinase, conhecido como TrkB. O TrkB é um receptor de membrana com propriedades relacionadas a sinalização e diferenciação celular que tem sido envolvido em transtornos neuropsiquiátricos. Objetivo Estudar as freqüências de alelos variantes do gene NTRK2 em pacientes com epilepsia do lobo temporal (ELT) comparado a controles sem epilepsia. O impacto desses polimorfismos em variáveis clínicas e psiquiátricas dos pacientes com ELT também foi analisado. Métodos Inicialmente, realizamos estudo de caso-controle comparando as freqüências dos polimorfismos do TrkB em 198 pacientes Brasileiros com origem Européia com ELT e 200 controles sem epilepsia. Na segunda parte, foi avaliado o impacto das variantes alélicas em características clínicas e eletroencefalográficas dos pacientes com epilepsia. Os seguintes polimorfismos foram avaliados: rs1867283A>G, rs10868235C>T, rs1147198G>T, rs11140800A>T, rs1187286G>T, rs2289656A>G, rs1624327A>G, rs1443445A>G, rs3780645C>T, rs2378672C>T. Por fim, 163 pacientes com ELT foram avaliados com uma entrevista psiquiátrica (SCID-I) para detecção de transtornos psiquiátricos ao longo da vida e esses achados foram analisados em relação aos polimorfismos do gene NTRK2. Resultados Pacientes com epilepsia do lobo temporal evidenciaram um aumento significativo de Timina em homozigose no SNP rs10868235 do gene NTRK2 quando comparados ao grupo controle (O.R.=1.90; 95%IC=1.17-3.09; p= 0.01). Não foram encontradas outras diferenças entre pacientes e controles. Pacientes com Adenina em homozigose no SNP rs1443445 do gene NTRK2 tiveram uma média de idade de início de crises mais baixa quando comparados aos demais pacientes (p<0.01). Também observamos que a presença de Timina foi significativamente mais freqüente no SNP rs3780645 do gene NTRK2 em pacientes que necessitam politerapia para o controle de crises se comparados aos que estão em monoterapia. Esse achado pode significar uma maior dificuldade em obter o controle das crises nesse grupo de pacientes (O.R.= 4.13; 95%IC= 1.68-10.29; p= 0.001). Após essa análise, estudamos 163 pacientes com ELT em relação a presença ou não de comorbidades psiquiátricas. A avaliação psiquiátrica foi realizada através da aplicação do SCID-I (Entrevista Clínica Estruturada para Detecção de Transtornos Psiquiátricos de Eixo I do DSM-IV). Setenta e seis pacientes (46.6%) apresentaram transtornos de humor. Sexo feminino, transtorno de ansiedade, genótipo A/A no SNP rs1867283 e genótipo C/C no SNP rs10868235 do gene NTRK2 foram todos fatores independentemente associados com transtornos de humor nesses pacientes Transtornos depressivos foram os que mais contribuíram para esses resultados. Após a regressão logística, fatores de risco independentes para transtornos depressivos em pacientes com ELT foram sexo feminino (OR=2.54; 95%IC=1.18- 5.47; p=0.017), presença de transtorno de ansiedade concomitante (OR=3.30; 95%IC=1.58-6.68; p=0.001), genótipo A/A no SNP rs1867283 do gene NTRK2 (OR=2.84; 95%IC=1.19-6.80; p=0.019), e genótipo C/C no SNP rs10868235 do gene NTRK2 (OR=2.74; IC=1.28-5.88; p=0.010). Conclusões Observamos que pacientes com ELT apresentam uma distribuição alélica distinta do gene NTRK2 quando comparados a controles sem epilepsia e que a variabilidade alélica do NTRK2 influenciou a idade de início de crises e talvez a resposta a terapia farmacológica anticonvulsivante. O sexo feminino, transtornos de ansiedade e variações alélicas no gene NTRK2 foram todos fatores de risco independentes para transtornos de humor ou transtornos depressivos em pacientes com ELT. Até onde temos conhecimento, este é o primeiro estudo evidenciando associações de variantes alélicas do gene NTRK2 em ELT. Acreditamos que outros estudos nessa área ajudarão a elucidar melhor os mecanismos envolvidos na epileptogênese do lobo temporal. Se nossos resultados forem confirmados, as variantes alélicas do gene NTRK2 poderiam ser usadas como um biomarcador para transtornos depressivos em pacientes com ELT. / Introduction The NTRK2 gene encodes a member of the neurotrophic tyrosine kinase family receptor known as TrkB. It is a membrane-associated receptor with signaling and cellular differentiation proprieties that has been involved in neuropsychiatric disorders. Objective Study the frequencies of NTRK2 allele variants in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) compared to controls without epilepsy. The impact of these polymorphisms on major clinical and psychiatric variables in TLE was also explored. Methods A case-control study comparing the frequencies of the TrkB gene polymorphism in 198 TLE Brazilian with European origin patients and in 200 matching controls without epilepsy. In a second step, the impact of allelic variation on major clinical and electroencephalographic variables in epilepsy was evaluated in the group of TLE patients. The following polymorphisms were evaluated: rs1867283A>G, rs10868235C>T, rs1147198G>T, rs11140800A>T, rs1187286G>T, rs2289656A>G, rs1624327A>G, rs1443445A>G, rs3780645C>T, rs2378672C>T. At last, 163 TLE patients were evaluated with a psychiatry interview (SCID-I) to detect lifelong psychiatric comorbidities and this findings were analyzed in relation to NTRK2 polymorphisms. Results Patients with temporal lobe epilepsy showed a significant increase of thymine homozygosis in the rs10868235 NTRK2 SNP when compared with the control group (O.R.=1.90; 95%CI=1.17-3.09; p= 0.01) . There were no other differences between patients and controls. Patients with adenine homozygosis in the rs1443445 NTRK2 SNP showed an earlier mean age of seizure onset when compared with other patients (p<0.01). Also, we observed that thymine was significantly more frequent in the rs3780645 NTRK2 SNP in patients that needed polytheraphy for seizure control when compared to those in monotherapy. This finding perhaps reflects an increased difficulty to exert seizure control in this group of patients (O.R.= 4.13; 95%CI= 1.68-10.29; p= 0.001). We also analyzed 163 patients in the TLE group in relation to presence of psychiatric comorbidities. Psychiatric evaluation was performed using the SCID-I (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, Axis I). Seventy six patients (46.6%) showed mood disorders. Female sex, anxiety disorders, A/A genotype in rs1867283 NTRK2, and C/C genotype in the rs10868235 NTRK2 gene were all independently associated with mood disorders in these patients. Depressive disorders mostly accounted for these results. After logistic regression, independent risk factors for depressive disorder in TLE were female sex (OR=2.54; 95%CI=1.18-5.47; p=0.017), presence of concomitant anxiety disorders (OR=3.30; 95%CI=1.58-6.68; p=0.001), A/A genotype in rs1867283 NTRK2 (OR=2.84; 95%CI=1.19-6.80; p=0.019), and C/C genotype in rs10868235 NTRK2 gene (OR=2.74; 1.28-5.88; p=0.010). Conclusions We observed that patients with epilepsy showed a difference in NTRK2 allelic distribution when compared with controls without epilepsy, and that NTRK2 variability influenced age of seizure onset and perhaps pharmacologic response to seizure control. Female sex, anxiety disorders and allelic variations in NTRK2 gene were all independent risk factors for mood disorder or depressive disorders in TLE. . As far as we know, this is the first study showing an association between NTKR2 allele variants in temporal lobe epilepsy. We believe that other studies in this venue will shade some light on the molecular mechanisms involved in temporal epileptogenesis. If our results were confirmed, NTRK2 gene allele variants could be used as a biomarker for depressive disorders in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy.

Introdução O gene NTRK2 codifica um receptor pertencente a família de neurotrofinas Tirosina Kinase, conhecido como TrkB. O TrkB é um receptor de membrana com propriedades relacionadas a sinalização e diferenciação celular que tem sido envolvido em transtornos neuropsiquiátricos. Objetivo Estudar as freqüências de alelos variantes do gene NTRK2 em pacientes com epilepsia do lobo temporal (ELT) comparado a controles sem epilepsia. O impacto desses polimorfismos em variáveis clínicas e psiquiátricas dos pacientes com ELT também foi analisado. Métodos Inicialmente, realizamos estudo de caso-controle comparando as freqüências dos polimorfismos do TrkB em 198 pacientes Brasileiros com origem Européia com ELT e 200 controles sem epilepsia. Na segunda parte, foi avaliado o impacto das variantes alélicas em características clínicas e eletroencefalográficas dos pacientes com epilepsia. Os seguintes polimorfismos foram avaliados: rs1867283A>G, rs10868235C>T, rs1147198G>T, rs11140800A>T, rs1187286G>T, rs2289656A>G, rs1624327A>G, rs1443445A>G, rs3780645C>T, rs2378672C>T. Por fim, 163 pacientes com ELT foram avaliados com uma entrevista psiquiátrica (SCID-I) para detecção de transtornos psiquiátricos ao longo da vida e esses achados foram analisados em relação aos polimorfismos do gene NTRK2. Resultados Pacientes com epilepsia do lobo temporal evidenciaram um aumento significativo de Timina em homozigose no SNP rs10868235 do gene NTRK2 quando comparados ao grupo controle (O.R.=1.90; 95%IC=1.17-3.09; p= 0.01). Não foram encontradas outras diferenças entre pacientes e controles. Pacientes com Adenina em homozigose no SNP rs1443445 do gene NTRK2 tiveram uma média de idade de início de crises mais baixa quando comparados aos demais pacientes (p<0.01). Também observamos que a presença de Timina foi significativamente mais freqüente no SNP rs3780645 do gene NTRK2 em pacientes que necessitam politerapia para o controle de crises se comparados aos que estão em monoterapia. Esse achado pode significar uma maior dificuldade em obter o controle das crises nesse grupo de pacientes (O.R.= 4.13; 95%IC= 1.68-10.29; p= 0.001). Após essa análise, estudamos 163 pacientes com ELT em relação a presença ou não de comorbidades psiquiátricas. A avaliação psiquiátrica foi realizada através da aplicação do SCID-I (Entrevista Clínica Estruturada para Detecção de Transtornos Psiquiátricos de Eixo I do DSM-IV). Setenta e seis pacientes (46.6%) apresentaram transtornos de humor. Sexo feminino, transtorno de ansiedade, genótipo A/A no SNP rs1867283 e genótipo C/C no SNP rs10868235 do gene NTRK2 foram todos fatores independentemente associados com transtornos de humor nesses pacientes Transtornos depressivos foram os que mais contribuíram para esses resultados. Após a regressão logística, fatores de risco independentes para transtornos depressivos em pacientes com ELT foram sexo feminino (OR=2.54; 95%IC=1.18- 5.47; p=0.017), presença de transtorno de ansiedade concomitante (OR=3.30; 95%IC=1.58-6.68; p=0.001), genótipo A/A no SNP rs1867283 do gene NTRK2 (OR=2.84; 95%IC=1.19-6.80; p=0.019), e genótipo C/C no SNP rs10868235 do gene NTRK2 (OR=2.74; IC=1.28-5.88; p=0.010). Conclusões Observamos que pacientes com ELT apresentam uma distribuição alélica distinta do gene NTRK2 quando comparados a controles sem epilepsia e que a variabilidade alélica do NTRK2 influenciou a idade de início de crises e talvez a resposta a terapia farmacológica anticonvulsivante. O sexo feminino, transtornos de ansiedade e variações alélicas no gene NTRK2 foram todos fatores de risco independentes para transtornos de humor ou transtornos depressivos em pacientes com ELT. Até onde temos conhecimento, este é o primeiro estudo evidenciando associações de variantes alélicas do gene NTRK2 em ELT. Acreditamos que outros estudos nessa área ajudarão a elucidar melhor os mecanismos envolvidos na epileptogênese do lobo temporal. Se nossos resultados forem confirmados, as variantes alélicas do gene NTRK2 poderiam ser usadas como um biomarcador para transtornos depressivos em pacientes com ELT. / Introduction The NTRK2 gene encodes a member of the neurotrophic tyrosine kinase family receptor known as TrkB. It is a membrane-associated receptor with signaling and cellular differentiation proprieties that has been involved in neuropsychiatric disorders. Objective Study the frequencies of NTRK2 allele variants in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) compared to controls without epilepsy. The impact of these polymorphisms on major clinical and psychiatric variables in TLE was also explored. Methods A case-control study comparing the frequencies of the TrkB gene polymorphism in 198 TLE Brazilian with European origin patients and in 200 matching controls without epilepsy. In a second step, the impact of allelic variation on major clinical and electroencephalographic variables in epilepsy was evaluated in the group of TLE patients. The following polymorphisms were evaluated: rs1867283A>G, rs10868235C>T, rs1147198G>T, rs11140800A>T, rs1187286G>T, rs2289656A>G, rs1624327A>G, rs1443445A>G, rs3780645C>T, rs2378672C>T. At last, 163 TLE patients were evaluated with a psychiatry interview (SCID-I) to detect lifelong psychiatric comorbidities and this findings were analyzed in relation to NTRK2 polymorphisms. Results Patients with temporal lobe epilepsy showed a significant increase of thymine homozygosis in the rs10868235 NTRK2 SNP when compared with the control group (O.R.=1.90; 95%CI=1.17-3.09; p= 0.01) . There were no other differences between patients and controls. Patients with adenine homozygosis in the rs1443445 NTRK2 SNP showed an earlier mean age of seizure onset when compared with other patients (p<0.01). Also, we observed that thymine was significantly more frequent in the rs3780645 NTRK2 SNP in patients that needed polytheraphy for seizure control when compared to those in monotherapy. This finding perhaps reflects an increased difficulty to exert seizure control in this group of patients (O.R.= 4.13; 95%CI= 1.68-10.29; p= 0.001). We also analyzed 163 patients in the TLE group in relation to presence of psychiatric comorbidities. Psychiatric evaluation was performed using the SCID-I (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, Axis I). Seventy six patients (46.6%) showed mood disorders. Female sex, anxiety disorders, A/A genotype in rs1867283 NTRK2, and C/C genotype in the rs10868235 NTRK2 gene were all independently associated with mood disorders in these patients. Depressive disorders mostly accounted for these results. After logistic regression, independent risk factors for depressive disorder in TLE were female sex (OR=2.54; 95%CI=1.18-5.47; p=0.017), presence of concomitant anxiety disorders (OR=3.30; 95%CI=1.58-6.68; p=0.001), A/A genotype in rs1867283 NTRK2 (OR=2.84; 95%CI=1.19-6.80; p=0.019), and C/C genotype in rs10868235 NTRK2 gene (OR=2.74; 1.28-5.88; p=0.010). Conclusions We observed that patients with epilepsy showed a difference in NTRK2 allelic distribution when compared with controls without epilepsy, and that NTRK2 variability influenced age of seizure onset and perhaps pharmacologic response to seizure control. Female sex, anxiety disorders and allelic variations in NTRK2 gene were all independent risk factors for mood disorder or depressive disorders in TLE. . As far as we know, this is the first study showing an association between NTKR2 allele variants in temporal lobe epilepsy. We believe that other studies in this venue will shade some light on the molecular mechanisms involved in temporal epileptogenesis. If our results were confirmed, NTRK2 gene allele variants could be used as a biomarker for depressive disorders in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy.

Neurotrophins and their receptors are key molecules in the development of thenervous system. Neurotrophin-3 binds preferentially to its high-affinity receptorNTRK3, which exists in two major isoforms in humans, the full-length kinaseactiveform (150 kDa) and a truncated non-catalytic form (50 kDa). The twovariants show different 3'UTR regions, indicating that they might be differentiallyregulated at the post-transcriptional level. In this work we explore howmicroRNAs take part in the regulation of full-length and truncated NTRK3,demonstrating that the two isoforms are targeted by different sets of microRNAs.We analyze the physiological consequences of the overexpression of some of theregulating microRNAs in human neuroblastoma cells. Finally, we providepreliminary evidence for a possible involvement of miR-124 - a microRNA with noputative target site in either NTRK3 isoform - in the control of the alternativespicing of NTRK3 through the downregulation of the splicing repressor PTBP1. / Las neurotrofinas y sus receptores constituyen una familia de factores crucialespara el desarrollo del sistema nervioso. La neurotrofina 3 ejerce su funciónprincipalmente a través de una unión de gran afinidad al receptor NTRK3, del cualse conocen dos isoformas principales, una larga de 150KDa con actividad de tipotirosina kinasa y una truncada de 50KDa sin dicha actividad. Estas dos isoformasno comparten la misma región 3'UTR, lo que sugiere la existencia de unaregulación postranscripcional diferente. En el presente trabajo se ha exploradocomo los microRNAs intervienen en la regulación de NTRK3, demostrando que lasdos isoformas son reguladas por diferentes miRNAs. Se han analizado lasconsecuencias fisiológicas de la sobrexpresión de dichos microRNAs utilizandocélulas de neuroblastoma. Finalmente, se ha estudiado la posible implicación delmicroRNA miR-124 en el control del splicing alternativo de NTRK3 a través de laregulación de represor de splicing PTBP1.