1
|
Agoston DV, McCullough J, Aniceto R, Lin IH, Kamnaksh A, Eklund M, Graves WM, Dunbar C, Engall J, Schneider EB, Leonessa F, Duckworth JL. Blood-Based Biomarkers of Repetitive, Subconcussive Blast Overpressure Exposure in the Training Environment: A Pilot Study. Neurotrauma Rep 2022; 3:479-490. [PMID: 36337080 PMCID: PMC9634979 DOI: 10.1089/neur.2022.0029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Because of their unknown long-term effects, repeated mild traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), including the low, subconcussive ones, represent a specific challenge to healthcare systems. It has been hypothesized that they can have a cumulative effect, and they may cause molecular changes that can lead to chronic degenerative processes. Military personnel are especially vulnerable to consequences of subconcussive TBIs because their training involves repeated exposures to mild explosive blasts. In this pilot study, we collected blood samples at baseline, 6 h, 24 h, 72 h, 2 weeks, and 3 months after heavy weapons training from students and instructors who were exposed to repeated subconcussive blasts. Samples were analyzed using the reverse and forward phase protein microarray platforms. We detected elevated serum levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein, ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1), nicotinic alpha 7 subunit (CHRNA7), occludin (OCLN), claudin-5 (CLDN5), matrix metalloprotease 9 (MMP9), and intereukin-6 (IL-6). Importantly, serum levels of most of the tested protein biomarkers were the highest at 3 months after exposures. We also detected elevated autoantibody titers of proteins related to vascular and neuroglia-specific proteins at 3 months after exposures as compared to baseline levels. These findings suggest that repeated exposures to subconcussive blasts can induce molecular changes indicating not only neuron and glia damage, but also vascular changes and inflammation that are detectable for at least 3 months after exposures whereas elevated titers of autoantibodies against vascular and neuroglia-specific proteins can indicate an autoimmune process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Denes V. Agoston
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Genetics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.,Address correspondence to: Denes V. Agoston, MD, PhD, Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Genetics, Uniformed Services University, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Building B, Room 2036, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
| | - Jesse McCullough
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Genetics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Roxanne Aniceto
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Genetics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - I-Hsuan Lin
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Genetics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Alaa Kamnaksh
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Genetics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Michael Eklund
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Genetics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Wallace M. Graves
- NeuroTactical Research Team, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Camp Pendleton, California, USA.,Department of Neurology, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Cyrus Dunbar
- NeuroTactical Research Team, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Camp Pendleton, California, USA.,Department of Neurology, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - James Engall
- NeuroTactical Research Team, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Camp Pendleton, California, USA.,Department of Neurology, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Eric B. Schneider
- Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Fabio Leonessa
- Department of Neurology, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Josh L. Duckworth
- NeuroTactical Research Team, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Camp Pendleton, California, USA.,Department of Neurology, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| |
Collapse
|