Fig. 6

Schematic overview of layer marker expression. a Cortical layer markers are expressed in normal cortex as follows: Cux2: layers II and III (blue); Satb2: layers II, III, IV, and V (green); RORβ in layer IV and to a lesser extent layer VI (orange); ER81 in layers V and VI (purple), and Tbr1 in layers V and VI and few white matter neurons (red). b, c Expression pattern of cortical layer markers in tubers and FCD type IIb: dysmorphic neurons strongly expressed Cux2, RORβ, and ER81 and to a lesser extent Satb2 throughout all layers of the cortex. They did not express Tbr1. Giant cells of cortical tubers often expressed Satb2, ER81, or none of the markers. Balloon cells of FCD type IIb showed a similar pattern although to a lesser extent, BCs did more frequently express none of the markers. Trends observed in normal-appearing neurons: Cux2+ and Satb2+ neurons were less in cortical tubers. The RORβ+ cells of layer IV were reduced in both pathologies. The expression of Tbr1 and ER81 was increased in the upper cortical layers and was also present in normal-appearing neurons of the white matter. Triangles neurons, circles giant/balloon cells, SG supragranular layers, IG infragranular layers