Circulating proteasome activity following mild head injury in children.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study is to characterize changes in circulating proteasome (c-proteasome) activity following mild traumatic brain injury in children.


METHODS
Fifty children managed at the Department of Pediatric Surgery because of concussion-mild head injury was randomly included into the study. The children were aged 11 months to 17 years (median = 10.07 + -1.91 years). Plasma proteasome activity was assessed using Suc-Leu-Leu-Val-Tyr-AMC peptide substrate, 2-6 h, 12-16 h, and 2 days after injury. Twenty healthy children admitted for planned inguinal hernia repair served as controls.


RESULTS
Statistically significant elevation of plasma c-proteasome activity was noted in children with mild head injury 2-6 h, 12-16 h, and 2 days after the injury.


CONCLUSIONS
Authors observed a statistically significant upward trend in the c-proteasome activity between 2-6 and 12-16 h after the mild head injury, consistent with the onset of the symptoms of cerebral concussion and a downward trend in the c-proteasome activity in the plasma of children with mild head injury between 12-16 h and on the second day after the injury, consistent with the resolving of the symptoms of cerebral concussion. Further studies are needed to demonstrate that the proteasome activity could be a prognostic factor, which can help in further diagnostic and therapeutic decisions in patients with head injury.
Department of Biophysics, Medical University of Białystok, Mickiewicza 2A, 15-089, Białystok, Poland.
Marzena
M
Tylicka
Ewa
E
Matuszczak
Wojciech
W
Dębek
Adam
A
Hermanowicz
Halina
H
Ostrowska
D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex