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Open Access 01-12-2020 | Central Nervous System Trauma | Research

Blast traumatic brain injury and serum inflammatory cytokines: a repeated measures case-control study among U.S. military service members

Authors: Jennifer Rusiecki, Lynn I. Levin, Li Wang, Celia Byrne, Jayasree Krishnamurthy, Ligong Chen, Zygmunt Galdzicki, Louis M. French

Published in: Journal of Neuroinflammation | Issue 1/2020

Abstract

Background

There is a paucity of human data on exposure to blast traumatic brain injury (bTBI) and the corresponding systemic cytokine immune response at later time points (i.e., months, years) post-injury.

Methods

We conducted a repeated measures, case-control study, examining associations of serum levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, measured both pre- and post-deployment with having mild and moderate/severe bTBI. Utilizing serum from the Department of Defense Serum Repository cytokines were measured via an ELISA-based array for 15 cytokines. We compared pre- vs. post-levels among mild cases, moderate/severe cases, and controls and carried out case-control comparisons, using paired t- tests and generalized linear models.

Results

The average time between bTBI and post-deployment/bTBI serum among cases was 315.8 days. From pre- to post-deployment/bTBI, levels of interleukin 8 (IL-8) were decreased among both mild cases (μ = − 83.43 pg/ml; s.e. = 21.66) and moderate/severe cases (μ = − 107.67 pg/ml; s.e. = 28.74 pg/ml), while levels increased among controls (μ = 32.86 pg/ml; s.e. = 30.29). The same pattern occurred for matrix metallopeptidase 3 (MMP3), with levels decreasing for moderate/severe cases (μ = − 3369.24 pg/ml; s.e. = 1701.68) and increasing for controls (μ = 1859.60 pg/ml; s.e. = 1737.51) from pre- to post-deployment/bTBI. Evidence was also suggestive of case-control differences, from pre- to post-deployment/bTBI for interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1α), interleukin 4 (IL-4), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) among moderate/severe cases.

Conclusion

The findings of this longitudinal study indicate that in the chronic phase of bTBI, levels of IL-8 and MMP3 may be substantially lower than pre-injury. These results need confirmation in other studies, potentially those that account for treatment differences, which was not possible in our study.

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Title: Blast traumatic brain injury and serum inflammatory cytokines: a repeated measures case-control study among U.S. military service members
Authors: Jennifer Rusiecki
Lynn I. Levin
Li Wang
Celia Byrne
Jayasree Krishnamurthy
Ligong Chen
Zygmunt Galdzicki
Louis M. French
Publication date: 01-12-2020
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Central Nervous System Trauma
Cytokines
Published in: Journal of Neuroinflammation / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1742-2094
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-019-1624-z

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Blast traumatic brain injury and serum inflammatory cytokines: a repeated measures case-control study among U.S. military service members

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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