[The association of aromatic microbial metabolites, inflammatory and autoimmune biomarkers with clinical dynamics in severe diseases of the central nervous system]

OBJECTIVE

To identify the association between the changes in the profile of microbial metabolites, inflammatory and autoimmune markers and the dynamics of neurological status in chronic critically ill patients with diseases of the central nervous system (CNS).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Sixty serum samples from 37 patients, aged 19-77 years, with severe CNS diseases were studied. The changes in clinical condition were assessed with NIHSS, the Rankin scale, the Glasgow Coma Scale, the FOUR Coma Scale and the Rivermead Mobility Index. The levels of aromatic microbial metabolites (AMM) and several inflammatory and autoimmune biomarkers, including the contents of procalcitonin (PCT) and S100, the activity of leukocyte elastase (LE) and a1-proteinase inhibitor a1-PI, the levels of autoantibodies to S100b and MBP were measured. Serum from 60 age- and sex-matched healthy people with no signs of neurological and somatic pathology was used as a control.

RESULTS

All patients were divided into groups depending on the neurological dynamics: A - positive (n=16), B - without dynamics (n=15), C - negative (n=6). The study revealed a profile of AMM, as well as inflammatory and autoimmune biomarkers associated with the severity of neurological disorders. A significant increase in acute phase proteins, S-100 level and a decrease in the functional activity of neutrophils (via LE activity) were observed in the serum of patients. The different dynamics of neurological status was associated with the multidirectional changes in the microbial metabolites profile and biomarkers. The correlations between the clinical and biological parameters indicate that AMM might modulate immune reactions in patients with different dynamics of neurological status.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest the involvement of AMM and the level of immune activation via biomarkers in the pathogenesis of neurological dysfunction. Dynamic changes in the profile of microbial metabolites and the level of activation of the immune system may be a promising tool for prediction of neurological recovery.

Increased S-nitrosothiols are associated with spinal cord injury in multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated disorder associated with inflammation, demyelination and axonal damage. In search of potential biomarkers of spinal cord lesions in MS related to nitric oxide metabolites, we measured total nitrite and nitrate levels, and protein-bound nitrotyrosine and S-nitrosothiol concentrations in the serum of MS patients at different stages of the disease. Sixty-eight patients and 36 healthy volunteers were included in the study. Total nitrite and nitrate levels were augmented in relapsing-remitting MS, while increased S-nitrosothiol concentrations were found both in relapsing-remitting and secondary-progressive MS. Further analysis demonstrated that S-nitrosothiol levels were selectively increased in patients with spinal cord injury. The data suggest that high S-nitrosothiol concentration may be a potential serum biomarker for spinal cord injury in MS.

STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL HETEROGENEITY OF ASTROCYTES IN THE BRAIN: ROLE IN NEURODEGENERATION AND NEUROINFLAMMATION

The review covers the current concepts on structural and functional heterogeneity of brain astrocytes that serve for numerous (patho)physiological processes in the central nervous system. Astrocytes from various subpopulations demonstrate different sensitivity to the action of pathogenic factors, varied behaviors in reactive processes and within the local immune response. Key functions of astrocytes like neurogenesis, neuron-astroglia metabolic coupling, glial control of local blood flow greatly depend on the origin and characteristics of astroglial cells. Changes at the initial stages of neurodegeneration or in neurodevelopmental disorders are associated with significant alterations in astroglial structural and functional properties, thus suggesting new approaches to therapeutic strategies implementing astroglia-expressing molecules and targets for effective

Cocktail blood biomarkers: prediction of clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND

Timely prediction of stroke outcomes is important for proper personalized treatment. In the present study, we aimed to develop cocktail blood biomarkers to increase prediction efficiency using a combination of hemostasis, inflammatory and repair-related biomarkers.

METHODS

105 patients suffering from acute ischemic stroke were divided into good outcome group and poor outcome group by modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Cytokines including CD40L, IFN-γ, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17 and TNF-α, as well as hemostasis markers fibrinogen, fibrin degradation products (FDP), D-dimer, tissue plasminogen activator, and plasminogen activation inhibitor-1 in plasma were examined by ELISA. Repair-related biomarker microRNA-210 (miR-210) was measured by real-time PCR. The prediction efficiency was explored by receiver operator characteristic analysis.

RESULTS

We demonstrated that FDP, IL-6 and miR-210 levels were closely associated with mRS in stroke patients. The prediction sensitivity of FDP, IL-6 and miR-210 for stroke outcome was 72.0, 86.7 and 82.5%, respectively. Using a combination of biomarkers including FDP, IL-6 and miR-210, the prognostic sensitivity of ischemic stroke increased to 95.2%.

CONCLUSION

The combination of FDP, IL-6 and miR-210 has a high sensitivity for predicting stroke recovery, it serves as a potential cocktail blood biomarker. It provides a novel approach for stroke prognosis.

Occupational exposure to whole-body vibration and Parkinson's disease: results from a population-based case-control study

Mechanical stress producing head injury is associated with Parkinson's disease, suggesting that relations with other physical hazards such as whole-body vibration (WBV) should be tested. In this study, the authors evaluated the relation between occupational exposure to WBV and Parkinson's disease. A population-based case-control study with 403 cases and 405 controls was conducted in British Columbia, Canada, between 2001 and 2008. From detailed occupational histories and published measurements, metrics of occupational WBV exposure were constructed and tested for associations with Parkinson's disease using logistic regression and adjusting for age and sex first, and then also for smoking and history of head injury. While ever being occupationally exposed to WBV was inversely associated with Parkinson's disease (odds ratio = 0.67, 95% confidence interval: 0.48, 0.94), higher intensities had consistently elevated odds ratios, with a statistically significant effect being noted for intermediate intensities when exposures were restricted to the 10 years or more prior to diagnosis. Possible mechanisms of an inverse relation between low levels of WBV exposure and Parkinson's disease could include direct protective effects or correlation with other protective effects such as exercise. Higher intensities of WBV could result in micro-injury, leading to vascular or inflammatory pathology in susceptible neurons.

S100B brain expression and plasma concentrations in a preeclampsia rat model

OBJECTIVE

To assess brain damage using the neuroinflammation marker S100B in a preeclampsia rat model.

METHODS

Non-pregnant and pregnant rats were infused with saline or low-dose-endotoxin on day 14 of pregnancy. S100B expression in the brain (immunohistochemistry) and S100B plasma concentrations (ELISA) were studied.

RESULTS

No differences in S100B expression in brain tissue were observed between the four groups. Pregnant endotoxin treated animals did not show increased levels of plasma S100B levels as compared with control pregnant rats, while significantly higher plasma S100B levels were found in non-pregnant endotoxin versus pregnant endotoxin infused rats.

CONCLUSION

Pregnancy nor experimental preeclampsia, alter S100B in rat brain, or in plasma. Increased plasma S100B in non-pregnant endotoxin-treated rats may indicate brain injury in these rats, whereas pregnancy might be protective.