Hippocampal proteomic signatures of the ketogenic diet in a model of infantile epileptic spasms syndrome.

Abstract

Infantile epileptic spasms syndrome (IESS) is a rare, early-onset pediatric epilepsy with severe neurological consequences. In refractory cases, the ketogenic diet (KD) is used as a metabolic therapy. To understand the antiepileptic mechanisms of the diet, this study examined the proteomic profiles in the hippocampus after KD treatment. Utilizing a rodent model of IESS in combination with quantitative proteomics, this study showed that the KD upregulated proteins involved in synaptogenesis, mitochondrial function, and neuroinflammation. Preliminary investigation reveals the KD induces alterations in hippocampal protein expression that mitigate neurodevelopmental consequences, providing candidate targets for future IESS investigation.