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Patel RS, Krause-Hauch M, Kenney K, Miles S, Nakase-Richardson R, Patel NA. Long Noncoding RNA VLDLR-AS1 Levels in Serum Correlate with Combat-Related Chronic Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Depression Symptoms in US Veterans. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1473. [PMID: 38338752 PMCID: PMC10855201 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
More than 75% of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are mild (mTBI) and military service members often experience repeated combat-related mTBI. The chronic comorbidities concomitant with repetitive mTBI (rmTBI) include depression, post-traumatic stress disorder or neurological dysfunction. This study sought to determine a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) expression signature in serum samples that correlated with rmTBI years after the incidences. Serum samples were obtained from Long-Term Impact of Military-Relevant Brain-Injury Consortium Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium (LIMBIC CENC) repository, from participants unexposed to TBI or who had rmTBI. Four lncRNAs were identified as consistently present in all samples, as detected via droplet digital PCR and packaged in exosomes enriched for CNS origin. The results, using qPCR, demonstrated that the lncRNA VLDLR-AS1 levels were significantly lower among individuals with rmTBI compared to those with no lifetime TBI. ROC analysis determined an AUC of 0.74 (95% CI: 0.6124 to 0.8741; p = 0.0012). The optimal cutoff for VLDLR-AS1 was ≤153.8 ng. A secondary analysis of clinical data from LIMBIC CENC was conducted to evaluate the psychological symptom burden, and the results show that lncRNAs VLDLR-AS1 and MALAT1 are correlated with symptoms of depression. In conclusion, lncRNA VLDLR-AS1 may serve as a blood biomarker for identifying chronic rmTBI and depression in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rekha S. Patel
- Research Service, James A. Haley Veteran’s Hospital, 13000 Bruce B Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612, USA; (R.S.P.); (S.M.)
| | - Meredith Krause-Hauch
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA;
| | - Kimbra Kenney
- Department of Neurology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA;
| | - Shannon Miles
- Research Service, James A. Haley Veteran’s Hospital, 13000 Bruce B Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612, USA; (R.S.P.); (S.M.)
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - Risa Nakase-Richardson
- Chief of Staff Office, James A. Haley Veteran’s Hospital, Tampa, FL 33612, USA;
- Department of Internal Medicine, Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - Niketa A. Patel
- Research Service, James A. Haley Veteran’s Hospital, 13000 Bruce B Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612, USA; (R.S.P.); (S.M.)
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA;
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