Ji-jun Sun - Department of Neurology, Liaocheng People&#۰۳۹;s Hospital and Liaocheng Clinical School of Taishan Medical University, Liaocheng, Shandong Province ۲۵۲۰۰۰, China
Min Huang - Department of Neurology, Jinan University, ۶۰۱ Huangpu Avenue West, Tianhe District, Guangzhou City. Guangdong Province ۵۱۰۶۳۲, China
Fei Xiao - Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, ۱ You Yi Road, Chongqing ۴۰۰۰۱۶, China
Zhi-qin Xi - Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, ۱ You Yi Road, Chongqing ۴۰۰۰۱۶, China

Objective(s):EMAP-like Protein ۵ (EML۵) is a new echinoderm microtubule-associated protein that is expressed in the central nervous system. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression profile of EML۵ in the anterior temporal neocortex of patients presenting with intractable epilepsy (IE). Materials and Methods:Western blot assays were performed to determine EML۵ expression in ۳۶ surgically resected anterior temporal neocortices of patients with IE and eight control tissues. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were employed to explore protein expression in IE. Results:EML۵ was highly expressed in both neurons and glial cells of the anterior temporal neocortex of IE patients, whereas only low levels of EML۵ were detected in control brain tissues. Western blotting showed an enhanced expression of EML۵ protein in the anterior temporal neocortex of IE (optical density (OD) = ۱.۸۰۳۰ ± ۰.۱۳۳۵/۱.۱۸۵۲ ± ۰.۲۲۵۳,P<۰.۰۵) compared with normal control tissues. Conclusion:The results demonstrate that highly expressed EML۵ in the neurons and glial cells of the cortex of patients with epilepsy is associated with microtubular dysfunction after frequent and recurrent seizures.

EML۵, Microtubule, Seizure