New 'master regulatory gene' identified as target to new epilepsy treatments

Researchers from Imperial College London, implementing a 'systems genetic' approach to study epilepsy, have discovered a gene that they consider to be a master regulatory gene for the disease. Epilepsy is a brain disorder marked by an abnormal pattern of neuron activity. Individuals who have epilepsy experience strange sensations, emotions, behavior and sometimes even convulsions, muscle spasms, and loss of consciousness. This disease, although very common, is very serious as it increases an individual’s mortality rate two to three times higher compared to the general population.

Epilepsy is known to have a strong genetic component; however, there a multiple factors involving hundreds of genes that have been related to the risks of epilepsy. Because multiple genes contribute to this disease, researchers have utilized 'systems genetics' to analyze several genes affiliated with the disease, rather than just analyzing one gene. This method has provided researchers with an insight on how these genes are coordinated in the brain and how they play a role with the disease.

More notably, found in the brain tissues of epileptic patients, researchers have identified a gene, known as Sestrin 3 (SESN3), that acts as a major regulator in the epileptic gene network. They have determined the gene to be a 'master regulatory gene' since it acts as a major control point in the epileptic gene network. Researchers are now targeting SESN3 to pave way a new method of treating epilepsy patients more effectively.

Given the discovery of this gene in relation to epilepsy, once targeted in the brain, it may be possible to control the entire epileptic gene network. This would be a remarkable method to develop medication that will work more effectively and give rise to new disease-modifying therapies that can help patients as well.