en Molecular & Cellular Immunology Molecular & Cellular Immunology Original Article Original Article Epilepsy is a chronic clinical syndrome of brain function which is caused by abnormal discharge of neurons. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs which act post-transcriptionally to regulate negatively protein levels. They affect neuroinflammatory signaling, glial and neuronal structure and function, neurogenesis, cell death, and other processes linked to epileptogenesis. The aim of this study was to explore the possible role of miR-125a and miR-181a as regulators of inflammation in epilepsy through investigating their involvement in the pathogenesis of epilepsy, and their correlation with the levels of inflammatory cytokines. Thirthy pediatric patients with epilepsy and 20 healthy controls matched for age and sex were involved in the study. MiR-181a and miR-125a expression were evaluated in plasma of all subjects using qRT-PCR. In addition, plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ and TNF-a) were determined using ELISA. Our findings indicated significantly lower expression levels of miR-125a (P=0.001) and miR-181a (P=0.001) in epileptic patients in comparison with controls. In addition, the production of IFN-γ and TNF-a was non-significantly higher in patients with epilepsy in comparison with the control group. Furthermore, there were no correlations between miR-125a and miR-181a with the inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ and TNF-a) in epileptic patients. MiR-125a and miR-181a could be involved in the pathogenesis of epilepsy and could serve as diagnostic biomarkers for pediatric patients with epilepsy. Epilepsy, MiR-181a, MiR-125a, inflammation, TNF-α, IFN-γ 188 197 http://ijmcmed.org/browse.php?a_code=A-10-2550-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Haiam Abdel Raouf haiamabdelraouf@gmail.com 100319475328460018983 100319475328460018983 Yes Immunogenetics Department, Human Genetics and Genome Research Division, National Research Center, Egypt. Naglaa Mohamed Kholoussi nkholoussi@gmail.com 100319475328460018984 100319475328460018984 No Immunogenetics Department, Human Genetics and Genome Research Division, National Research Center, Egypt. Eman Eissa emanessa82@yahoo.com 100319475328460018985 100319475328460018985 No Immunogenetics Department, Human Genetics and Genome Research Division, National Research Center, Egypt. Hala Gouda El Nady hala_elnad4@yahoo.com 100319475328460018986 100319475328460018986 No Child Health Department, Medical Research Division, National Research Center, Egypt. Dalia Bayoumi Fayed dfayednrc@yahoo.com 100319475328460018987 100319475328460018987 No Therapeutic Chemistry Department, Pharmaceutical and Drug Industries Research Division, National Research Centre, Egypt. Rania Fawzy ronyfma@yahoo.com 100319475328460018988 100319475328460018988 No Immunogenetics Department, Human Genetics and Genome Research Division, National Research Center, Egypt. Mahmoud Abdelkawy 100319475328460018989 100319475328460018989 No Immunogenetics Department, Human Genetics and Genome Research Division, National Research Center, Egypt.