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Cervellati C, Pedrini D, Pirro P, Guindani P, Renzini C, Brombo G, Zuliani G. Neutrophil-Lymphocytes Ratio as Potential Early Marker for Alzheimer's Disease. Mediators Inflamm 2024; 2024:6640130. [PMID: 38974600 PMCID: PMC11227945 DOI: 10.1155/2024/6640130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a noninvasive, inexpensive, and easily applicable marker of inflammation. Since immune dysregulation leading to inflammation is regarded as a hallmark of dementia, in particular Alzheimer's disease (AD), we decided to investigate the potentials of NLR as a diagnostic and predictive biomarker in this clinical setting. Materials and Methods NLR was measured in the blood of patients with AD (n = 103), amnestic type mild cognitive impairment (aMCI, n = 212), vascular dementia (VAD, n = 34), and cognitively healthy Controls (n = 61). One hundred twelve MCI patients underwent a regular clinical follow-up. Over a 36-months median follow-up, 80 remained stable, while 32 progressed to overt dementia. Results NLR was higher in patients with aMCI or dementia compared to Controls; however, the difference was statistically significant only for aMCI (+13%, p=0.04) and AD (+20%, p=0.03). These results were confirmed by multivariate logistic analysis, which showed that high NLR was associated with an increase in the likelihood of receiving a diagnosis of aMCI (odd ratio (OR): 2.58, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.36-4.89) or AD (OR: 3.13, 95%CI: 1.47-6.70), but not of VAD. NLR did not differ when comparing stable vs. progressing aMCI. Conclusions This is the first report showing that NLR is significantly increased in MCI and AD but not in VAD. We also found that NLR was unable to predict the conversion from aMCI to AD. Further research on larger cohorts is warranted to definitely ascertain the application of NLR as a possible marker for aMCI and AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Cervellati
- Department of Translational Medicine and for RomagnaUniversity of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| | - Dario Pedrini
- Department of Translational Medicine and for RomagnaUniversity of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| | - Pietro Pirro
- Department of Translational Medicine and for RomagnaUniversity of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| | - Paola Guindani
- Department of Translational Medicine and for RomagnaUniversity of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| | - Carlo Renzini
- Associazione Sammarinese di Geriatria e Gerontologia (ASGG), Dogana, San Marino
| | - Gloria Brombo
- Department of Translational Medicine and for RomagnaUniversity of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| | - Giovanni Zuliani
- Department of Translational Medicine and for RomagnaUniversity of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, Ferrara 44121, Italy
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Eggertsen PP, Palmfeldt J, Pedersen AR, Frederiksen OV, Olsen RKJ, Nielsen JF. Serum neurofilament light chain, inflammatory markers, and kynurenine metabolites in patients with persistent post-concussion symptoms: A cohort study. J Neurol Sci 2024; 460:123016. [PMID: 38636323 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2024.123016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Concussion leads to persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS) in up to one-third of those affected. While previous research has linked the initial trauma to elevated serum levels of neurofilament light chain (NFL), inflammatory markers, and neurotoxic metabolites within the kynurenine pathway, few studies have explored their relevance in PPCS. This study aims to investigate these biomarkers in PPCS patients, elucidating their relevance in the prolonged phase of concussion. METHODS Serum samples from 86 PPCS individuals aged 18-30 years, 2-6 months post-trauma were analyzed, with 54 providing follow-up samples after seven months. NFL was measured using single-molecule array (Simoa) technology, 13 inflammatory markers via a Luminex immunoassay, and five kynurenine metabolites using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. A control group of 120 healthy anonymous blood donors was recruited for comparison. RESULTS No significant NFL differences were found in PPCS participants compared with healthy individuals (p = 0.22). Intriguingly, a subset (9.3%) of PPCS participants initially exhibited abnormally high NFL levels (>9.7 pg/mL), which normalized upon follow-up (p = 0.032). Additionally, serum levels of the inflammatory markers, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2), and eotaxin-1/CCL11 were 25-40% lower than in healthy individuals (p ≤ 0.001). As hypothesized, PPCS participants exhibited a 22% reduction in the ratio of kynurenic acid to quinolinic acid (neuroprotective index) (p < 0.0001), indicating a shift towards the formation of neurotoxic metabolites. CONCLUSION NFL may serve as a biomarker to monitor recovery, and future studies should investigate the potential therapeutic benefits of modulating the kynurenine pathway to improve PPCS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Preben Eggertsen
- Hammel Neurorehabilitation Centre and University Research Clinic, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Voldbyvej 15A, Hammel 8450, Denmark; Research Unit for Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital and Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, Aarhus N 8200, Denmark.
| | - Johan Palmfeldt
- Research Unit for Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital and Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, Aarhus N 8200, Denmark
| | - Asger Roer Pedersen
- University Research Clinic for Innovative Patient Pathways, Diagnostic Centre, Silkeborg Regional Hospital, Falkevej 1, Silkeborg 8600, Denmark
| | | | - Rikke Katrine Jentoft Olsen
- Research Unit for Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital and Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, Aarhus N 8200, Denmark
| | - Jørgen Feldbæk Nielsen
- Hammel Neurorehabilitation Centre and University Research Clinic, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Voldbyvej 15A, Hammel 8450, Denmark
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Surzenko N, Bastidas J, Reid RW, Curaba J, Zhang W, Bostan H, Wilson M, Dominique A, Roberson J, Ignacio G, Komarnytsky S, Sanders A, Lambirth K, Brouwer CR, El-Khodor BF. Functional recovery following traumatic brain injury in rats is enhanced by oral supplementation with bovine thymus extract. FASEB J 2024; 38:e23460. [PMID: 38315443 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202301859r] [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: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. There are currently no effective treatments for TBI, and trauma survivors suffer from a variety of long-lasting health consequences. With nutritional support recently emerging as a vital step in improving TBI patients' outcomes, we sought to evaluate the potential therapeutic benefits of nutritional supplements derived from bovine thymus gland, which can deliver a variety of nutrients and bioactive molecules. In a rat model of controlled cortical impact (CCI), we determined that animals supplemented with a nuclear fraction of bovine thymus (TNF) display greatly improved performance on beam balance and spatial memory tests following CCI. Using RNA-Seq, we identified an array of signaling pathways that are modulated by TNF supplementation in rat hippocampus, including those involved in the process of autophagy. We further show that bovine thymus-derived extracts contain antigens found in neural tissues and that supplementation of rats with thymus extracts induces production of serum IgG antibodies against neuronal and glial antigens, which may explain the enhanced animal recovery following CCI through possible oral tolerance mechanism. Collectively, our data demonstrate, for the first time, the potency of a nutritional supplement containing nuclear fraction of bovine thymus in enhancing the functional recovery from TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Surzenko
- Nutrition Innovation Center, Standard Process, Inc., Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Robert W Reid
- College of Computing and Informatics, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Julien Curaba
- Eremid Genomic Services, LLC, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Wei Zhang
- Nutrition Innovation Center, Standard Process, Inc., Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Hamed Bostan
- Eremid Genomic Services, LLC, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Mickey Wilson
- Nutrition Innovation Center, Standard Process, Inc., Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ashley Dominique
- Nutrition Innovation Center, Standard Process, Inc., Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Julia Roberson
- Nutrition Innovation Center, Standard Process, Inc., Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Glicerio Ignacio
- David H. Murdock Research Institute, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Slavko Komarnytsky
- Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences, Plants for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Alexa Sanders
- College of Computing and Informatics, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kevin Lambirth
- College of Computing and Informatics, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Cory R Brouwer
- College of Computing and Informatics, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Bassem F El-Khodor
- Nutrition Innovation Center, Standard Process, Inc., Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
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Huang Y, Li QX, Cao LX, Wang G, Chan DKY, Bettencourt C, Milward AE. Editorial: Human brain banking - Bridging brain health and precision neurology. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1322200. [PMID: 37965174 PMCID: PMC10641812 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1322200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yue Huang
- Human Brain and Tissue Bank, China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Qiao-Xin Li
- National Dementia Diagnostics Laboratory, The Florey Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Ling-Xiao Cao
- Human Brain and Tissue Bank, China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Gang Wang
- School of Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Daniel Kam Yin Chan
- Department of Aged Care and Rehabilitation, Bankstown Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Conceicao Bettencourt
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease and Queen Square Brain Bank, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Adrienne E. Milward
- School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
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Halicki MJ, Hind K, Chazot PL. Blood-Based Biomarkers in the Diagnosis of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy: Research to Date and Future Directions. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12556. [PMID: 37628736 PMCID: PMC10454393 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disease consistently associated with repetitive traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), which makes multiple professions, such as contact sports athletes and the military, especially susceptible to its onset. There are currently no approved biomarkers to diagnose CTE, thus it can only be confirmed through a post-mortem brain autopsy. Several imaging and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers have shown promise in the diagnosis. However, blood-based biomarkers can be more easily obtained and quantified, increasing their clinical feasibility and potential for prophylactic use. This article aimed to comprehensively review the studies into potential blood-based biomarkers of CTE, discussing common themes and limitations, as well as suggesting future research directions. While the interest in blood-based biomarkers of CTE has recently increased, the research is still in its early stages. The main issue for many proposed biomarkers is their lack of selectivity for CTE. However, several molecules, such as different phosphorylated tau isoforms, were able to discern CTE from different neurodegenerative diseases. Further, the results from studies on exosomal biomarkers suggest that exosomes are a promising source of biomarkers, reflective of the internal environment of the brain. Nonetheless, more longitudinal studies combining imaging, neurobehavioral, and biochemical approaches are warranted to establish robust biomarkers for CTE.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Karen Hind
- Durham Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing, Stockton-on-Tees TS17 6BH, UK;
| | - Paul L. Chazot
- Department of Biosciences, Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK
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