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Review

Molecular Signature in Focal Cortical Dysplasia: A Systematic Review of RNA and Protein Data

by
Jalleh Shakerzadeh
1,
Radim Jaroušek
1,2,
Zita Goliášová
1 and
Milan Brázdil
1,3,*
1
Brno Epilepsy Centre, 1st Department of Neurology, St. Anne’s University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic
2
Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic
3
Behavioral and Social Neuroscience Research Group, CEITEC, Masaryk University, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(20), 9909; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26209909 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 19 September 2025 / Revised: 5 October 2025 / Accepted: 7 October 2025 / Published: 11 October 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Macromolecules)

Abstract

Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) is a major cause of drug-resistant epilepsy, yet its molecular basis remains poorly understood. Numerous studies have analyzed RNA, protein, and microRNA alterations, but results are often inconsistent across subtypes and methodologies. To address this gap, we conducted a systematic review integrating transcriptomic, proteomic, and microRNA data from 117 human studies of FCD subtypes I–III. Differentially expressed factors were extracted, categorized by subtype, and analyzed using pathway enrichment and network approaches. Our integrative analysis revealed convergent dysregulation of neuroinflammatory, synaptic, cytoskeletal, and metabolic pathways across FCD subtypes. Consistently altered genes, including IL1B, TLR4, BDNF, HMGCR, and ROCK2, together with dysregulated microRNAs such as hsa-miR-21-5p, hsa-miR-155-5p, and hsa-miR-132-3p, were linked to PI3K–Akt–mTOR, Toll-like receptor, and GABAergic signaling, emphasizing shared pathogenic mechanisms. Importantly, we identified overlapping transcript–protein patterns and subtype-specific molecular profiles that may refine diagnosis and inform therapeutic strategies. This review provides the first cross-omics molecular framework of FCD, demonstrating how convergent pathways unify heterogeneous findings and offering a roadmap for biomarker discovery and targeted interventions.
Keywords: focal cortical dysplasia; drug-resistant epilepsy; molecular biomarkers; neuroinflammation; synaptic plasticity; transcriptome; proteome; microRNAs; pathway analysis focal cortical dysplasia; drug-resistant epilepsy; molecular biomarkers; neuroinflammation; synaptic plasticity; transcriptome; proteome; microRNAs; pathway analysis

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Shakerzadeh, J.; Jaroušek, R.; Goliášová, Z.; Brázdil, M. Molecular Signature in Focal Cortical Dysplasia: A Systematic Review of RNA and Protein Data. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26, 9909. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26209909

AMA Style

Shakerzadeh J, Jaroušek R, Goliášová Z, Brázdil M. Molecular Signature in Focal Cortical Dysplasia: A Systematic Review of RNA and Protein Data. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2025; 26(20):9909. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26209909

Chicago/Turabian Style

Shakerzadeh, Jalleh, Radim Jaroušek, Zita Goliášová, and Milan Brázdil. 2025. "Molecular Signature in Focal Cortical Dysplasia: A Systematic Review of RNA and Protein Data" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26, no. 20: 9909. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26209909

APA Style

Shakerzadeh, J., Jaroušek, R., Goliášová, Z., & Brázdil, M. (2025). Molecular Signature in Focal Cortical Dysplasia: A Systematic Review of RNA and Protein Data. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(20), 9909. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26209909

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