Effect of Allium sativum-Derived Ast-miR2 microRNA on PCDH19 Gene Expression: A Negative Cross-Kingdom Interaction in Epilepsy

Nilgün Çekin

doi:10.7197/cmj.1767972

TR EN

Allium sativum'a Özgü Ast-miR2 MikroRNA’sının PCDH19 Gen Ekspresyonu Üzerine Etkisi: Epilepside Olumsuz Bir Türler Arası (Cross-Kingdom) Etkileşim

Öz

Epilepsi, yaşamın ilk yılında ve ileri yaşlarda yüksek insidans gösteren, en yaygın üçüncü nörolojik hastalıktır. Hastaların yaklaşık üçte birinde ilaçlara dirençli nöbetler görülmekte olup bu durum alternatif tedavilere olan ilgiyi artırmaktadır. Bitki ve gıdalardan türetilen mikroRNA’ların (miRNA) “türler arası düzenleme” yoluyla memeli gen ekspresyonunu düzenleyebildiği gösterilmiştir. Bitkisel tedaviler arasında Allium sativum (sarımsak) öne çıkmakta olup, altı potansiyel miRNA (Ast-miR1–Ast-miR6) tanımlanmıştır. Bu çalışmada, A. sativum kökenli miRNA’ların epilepsi ile ilişkili hedefleri in silico araçlarla (psRNATarget, NCBI, OMIM) belirlenmiştir. Ast-miR2, Ast-miR3 ve Ast-miR5’in sırasıyla PCDH19, SLC6A1 ve CNTN2 üzerindeki etkileri SH-SY5Y hücrelerinde değerlendirilmiştir. Ast-miR2 mimik transfeksiyonu, kontrol grubuna kıyasla PCDH19 ekspresyonunu anlamlı düzeyde azaltmış (Katlanma Değişimi [FC] = 0,07) ve hücre canlılığını %13 düşürmüştür (%87 canlılık, p < 0,05). Buna karşılık, Ast-miR3 ve Ast-miR5 transfeksiyonlarının ardından SLC6A1 (FC = 1,08, p = 0,12) veya CNTN2 (FC = 1,16, p = 0,09) ekspresyonunda anlamlı bir değişiklik gözlenmemiştir. Bu bulgular, Ast-miR2 ile PCDH19 arasındaki potansiyel olumsuz etkileşimin epilepsi patogenezine katkıda bulunabileceğini düşündürmektedir. Türler arası miRNA düzenlemesinin epilepsideki terapötik veya olumsuz etkilerini netleştirmek için ileri çalışmalara ihtiyaç vardır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Effect of Allium sativum-Derived Ast-miR2 microRNA on PCDH19 Gene Expression: A Negative Cross-Kingdom Interaction in Epilepsy

Abstract

Epilepsy is the third most common neurological disorder, with high incidence in the first year of life and later decades. About one-third of patients have drug-resistant seizures, prompting interest in alternative therapies. Plant- and food-derived microRNAs (miRNAs) can regulate mammalian gene expression through “cross-kingdom regulation.” Among herbal treatments, Allium sativum (garlic) is notable, with six potential miRNAs (Ast-miR1–Ast-miR6) identified. This study used in silico tools (psRNATarget, NCBI, OMIM) to identify epilepsy-related targets for A. sativum-derived miRNAs. The effects of Ast-miR2, Ast-miR3, and Ast-miR5 on their respective targets—PCDH19, SLC6A1, and CNTN2—were evaluated in SH-SY5Y cells. Ast-miR2 mimic transfection significantly reduced PCDH19 expression compared to controls (Fold Change [FC] = 0.07) and decreased cell viability by 13% (87% viability, p < 0.05). No significant changes were observed in SLC6A1 (FC = 1.08, p = 0.12) or CNTN2 (FC = 1.16, p = 0.09) expression after Ast-miR3 and Ast-miR5 transfection, respectively. These findings suggest a potential detrimental interaction between Ast-miR2 and PCDH19, which may contribute to epilepsy pathogenesis. Further studies are needed to clarify the therapeutic or adverse implications of cross-kingdom miRNA regulation in epilepsy.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Sivas Cumhuriyet University Scientific Research Projects Unit

Project Number

T-2022-899

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Health and Community Services

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Nilgün Çekin ^*
0000-0002-1000-7842
Türkiye

Publication Date

September 30, 2025

Submission Date

August 18, 2025

Acceptance Date

September 12, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 47 Number: 3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.7197/cmj.1767972

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA38FU23PC

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

AMA

1.Çekin N. Effect of Allium sativum-Derived Ast-miR2 microRNA on PCDH19 Gene Expression: A Negative Cross-Kingdom Interaction in Epilepsy. CMJ. 2025;47(3):22-28. doi:10.7197/cmj.1767972