Blood metallothionein, neuron specific enolase, and protein S100B in patients with traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation of neuron specific enolase (NSE), protein S100B and time-profile of Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) development with metallothionein (MT) blood levels in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) during 10 days of hospitalization. Patients were divided into 2 groups with respect to NSE and S100B levels - with (group I) and without (group II) GCS improvement.


METHODS
Serum NSE and S100B concentrations were measured by immunochemical methods; serum metallothionein concentration by electrochemical technique. Cortical biopsies were investigated immunohistochemically and by electron microscope. A cDNA microarray containing 700 gene probes was used to study the changes in gene expression in the ipsilateral cortex.


RESULTS
Values of MT in the blood of group I showed a non-significant decrease compared to group II during 1-3 days after admission. There was an increase of MT during 4-8 days in comparison with values of 1-3 days. The highest value of MT during hospitalization was found in a patient with diffuse axonal injury (group II). The data of cDNA microarray suggested an increase in expression of gene transcripts for oxygen free radical scavenger proteins corresponding with the increase of MT during 4-8 days in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The experimental data indicate that monitoring the content of MT in patients with trauma brain injury would be a suitable approach to evaluate the degree of injury or duration of prolonging unconsciousness, particularly in diagnosis of diffuse axonal injury.
Kukacka
Jirí
J
Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Charles University, 2nd Medical School and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic. jiri.kukacka@lf2.cuni.cz
Vajtr
David
D
Huska
Dalibor
D
Průsa
Richard
R
Houstava
Ladislav
L
Samal
Filip
F
Diopan
Václav
V
Kotaska
Karel
K
Kizek
René
R
D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000097:blood*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D011859:Radiography; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins; C579160:S100B protein, human; D008668:Metallothionein; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase