The effect of the HMGB1/RAGE/TLR4/NF‐κB signalling pathway in patients with idiopathic epilepsy and its relationship with toxoplasmosis

Abstract This study aims to investigate the relationship between toxoplasmosis and this pathway, which may be effective in the formation of epilepsy by acting through the HMGB1/RAGE/TLR4/NF‐κB signalling pathway in patients with idiopathic epilepsy. In the study, four different experimental groups were formed by selecting Toxoplasma gondii IgG positive and negative patients with idiopathic epilepsy and healthy controls. Experimental groups were as follows: Group 1: Epilepsy+/Toxo− (E+, T−) ( n = 10), Group 2: Epilepsy−/Toxo− (E−, T−) ( n = 10), Group 3: Epilepsy−/Toxo+ (E−, T+) ( n = 10), Group 4: Epilepsy+/Toxo+ (E+, T+) ( n = 10). HMGB1, RAGE, TLR4, TLR1, TLR2, TLR3, IRAK1, IRAK2, IKBKB, IKBKG, BCL3, IL1β, IL10, 1 L8 and TNFα mRNA expression levels in the HMGB/RAGE/TLR4/NF‐κB signalling pathway were determined by quantitative simultaneous PCR (qRT‐PCR) after collecting blood samples from all patients in the groups. Statistical analysis was performed by one‐way ANOVA followed by LSD post‐hoc tests, and p < 0.05 was considered to denote statistical significance. The gene expression levels of HMGB1, TLR4, IL10, IL1B, IL8, and TLR2 were significantly higher in the G1 group than in the other groups ( p < 0.05). In the G3 group, RAGE and BCL3 gene expression levels were significantly higher than in the other groups ( p < 0.05). In the G4 group, however, IRAK2, IKBKB, and IKBKG gene expression levels were significantly higher than in the other groups ( p < 0.05). HMGB1, TLR4, IRAK2, IKBKB, IL10, IL1B, IL1B, and IL8 in this signalling pathway are highly expressed in epilepsy patients in G1 and seizures occur with the stimulation of excitatory mechanisms by acting through this pathway. The signalling pathway in epilepsy may be activated by HMGB1, TLR4, and TLR2, which are considered to increase the level of proinflammatory cytokines. In T. gondii , this pathway is activated by RAGE and BCL3.