Transcriptomic Signatures of Brain Regions Vulnerable to Anatomical and Metabolic Changes in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Imaging transcriptomics could bridge the gap between connectome and transcriptome. In this study, we selected brain regions that were vulnerable to hypometabolism, and those vulnerable to atrophy, then investigated transcriptional signatures and cell-type composition differences that may contribute to TLE-related brain structural and metabolic changes. We found hippocampus and entorhinal were found to be most vulnerable brain regions in both anatomical and metabolic changes in TLE patients. Enrichment analysis found that differential expression genes most significantly enriched in neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway. Inhibitory neuron, microglia and oligodendrocyte precursor cells showed significant difference between vulnerable regions and relatively healthy regions.