Modeling of the gene network causing epilepsy in BV2 cells

Epilepsy is the second most common neurological disorder and affects more than 50 million people worldwide. This disease is characterised by recurrent spontaneous seizures provoked by the simultaneous firing of a massive group of neurons. The seizures cause temporary disturbances in cerebral functions such as the motor control, the cognitive process and the memory. The need for curing medication is, still to this day, unmet. This master thesis aims to improve our understanding of the genetic interactions involved in epilepsy. To this end, a gene network based on the work of collaborators at UCB and centred on csf1 has been built using bibliographic references and correlation matrices computed on experimental mRNA expression levels stimulated by a lipopolysaccharide in BV2 cells. The translation of the gene network in a mathematical model was performed using ordinary differential equations. The model parameters calibration was performed on experimental data obtained in BV2 cells. Finally a sensitivity analysis was carried out on the gene network components.