Adult Deletion of SRF Increases Epileptogenesis and Decreases Activity-Induced Gene Expression.

ABSTRACT: Although the transcription factor serum response factor (SRF) has been suggested to play a role in activity-dependent gene expression and mediate plasticity-associated structural changes in the hippocampus, no unequivocal evidence has been provided for its role in brain pathology, such as epilepsy. A genome-wide program of activity-induced genes that are regulated by SRF also remains unknown. In the present study, we show that the inducible and conditional deletion of SRF in the adult mouse hippocampus increases the epileptic phenotype in the kainic acid model of epilepsy, reflected by more severe and frequent seizures. Moreover, we observe a robust decrease in activity-induced gene transcription in SRF knockout mice. We characterize the genetic program controlled by SRF in neurons and usi

SUBMITTER: Kuzniewska B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4789231 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature