Commonalities in gene expression and methylation changes across two rat models of acquired epilepsy [RRBS]

Epileptogenesis, the process by which a normal brain develops epilepsy, is characterized by complex changes in DNA methylation and gene expression. In this study, RNA sequencing and reduced-representation bisulfite sequencing were utilized to investigate these molecular alterations in two distinct and widely used rat models of temporal lobe epilepsy: intrahippocampal electrical kindling and systemic kainic acid. These models, involving rats, differ significantly in their underlying mechanisms and histopathological outcomes, providing a unique opportunity to identify both shared and model-specific changes during epileptogenesis. By comparing these models, we uncovered common pathways that may reflect generalizable, model-independent mechanisms of epileptogenesis, alongside distinct changes that highlight the diverse molecular landscapes of each model. This integrative, multi-omics approach not only enhances our understanding of the molecular drivers of epileptogenesis but also underscores the importance of cross-model comparisons for uncovering robust and potentially therapeutic targets in epilepsy research. This dataset serves as a valuable resource for exploring the epigenomic and transcriptomic underpinnings of epilepsy.