Objective To investigate the associations of serum transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and klotho expression levels with the severity of epilepsy and cognitive function in patients with epilepsy.

Methods A total of 188 patients with epilepsy were enrolled as epilepsy group, and 188 healthy volunteers (without epilepsy) who underwent physical examinations during the same period were recruited as control group. Based on seizure types, 188 patients with epilepsy were further divided into partial seizure group (n=84) and generalized seizure group (n=104). According to the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores, the patients were also divided into cognition normal group (n=76) and cognition impairment group (n=112). Enzyme-linkedimmunosorbent assay (ELISA) was utilized to measure the serum levels of TGF-β1 and klotho. Spearman correlation analysis was conducted to explore the correlations of serum levels of TGF-β1 and klotho with the severity of epilepsy as well as cognitive function. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the factors influencing cognitive function in patients with epilepsy.

Results The serum levels of TGF-β1 and klotho in the epilepsy group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The serum levels of TGF-β1 and klotho in the generalized seizure group were significantly lower than those in the partial seizure group, and the National Hospital Seizure Severity Scale (NHS3) score was significantly higher than that in the partial seizure group (P < 0.05). There were negative correlations of serum levels of TGF-β1 and klotho with the severity of epilepsy (P < 0.05). The levels of TGF-β1 and klotho in the cognition impairment group were significantly lower than those in the cognition normal group (P < 0.05). Negative correlations were observed between serum levels of TGF-β1 as well as klotho and cognitive function (P < 0.05). TGF-β1 and klotho were identified as significant factors influencing cognitive function in patients with epilepsy (P < 0.05).

Conclusion The serum levels of TGF-β1 and klotho are significantly decreased in patients with epilepsy, and they are negatively correlated with the severity of epilepsy and closely associated with cognitive function.