Up-regulation of epithelial membrane protein-1 in the temporal neocortex of patients with intractable epilepsy.

Epithelial membrane protein-1 (EMP-1), called Tumor-associated membrane protein, is the marker of a drug-resistant tumor and take part in the drug-resistant mechanism of tumor, with the relationship of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Because there are some similarities between the pathogenesis and the drug resistance mechanism of tumor and the drug resistance mechanisms in epilepsy. EMP1 expression may be connected with the drug-resistance mechanism of epilepsy. We detected EMP-1 by gene scanning and immunohistochemistry staining, comparing the IE group and the control group, and we investigated the relationship between EMP-1 and EGFR by double-label immunofluorescence staining in the IE group. We found expression of EMP-1 mRNA was higher in IE per the gene scanning, EMP-1 immunoreactivity was apparent in neurons of IE patients but not in the control group, and the expression of EMP-1 and EGFR occurred in the same neuron. We confirm EMP-1 is abnormally expressed in IE and suggest the interaction of EGFR and EMP-1 plays a role in the mechanism of drug resistance in epilepsy and may be a new gene for drug resistance.