title: Proteins as biomarkers of carbon monoxide neurotoxicity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is the most common form of accidental lethal poisoning and is associated with a risk of brain damage in survivors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this study was to examine whether Tau protein or S100B protein may be used as a biomarker for acute brain dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  The determination of Tau and S100B proteins was performed in serum samples collected from 27 CO-poisoned patients and 12 healthy volunteers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The level of Tau protein in the serum of patients (444 ± 227 ng L(-1)) differed significantly compared with those in the healthy controls (240 ± 61 ng L(-1)) and correlated with the level of carboxyhemoglobin. A higher concentration of Tau protein was found in patients who had lost consciousness during CO exposure. The concentration of S100B in the serum of CO-poisoned subjects (0.08 ± 0.03 µg L(-1)) was not statistically different from values obtained for the controls (0.07 ± 0.02 µg L(-1)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CO poisoning appears to be associated with an elevated level of Tau and S100B proteins in the serum of patients who had suffered a loss of consciousness. The study has shown that Tau protein is a more sensitive biomarker than S100B protein for the earlier stage of neurotoxic effects of CO intoxication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Toxicology, Jagiellonian University School of Medicine , Krakow , Poland .
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gawlikowski
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Golasik
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gomółka
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Piekoszewski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000633:toxicity*; D002249:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002263:Carboxyhemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; C579160:S100B protein, human; D016875:tau Proteins; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D002263:Carboxyhemoglobin
keywords: CO poisoning; S100B protein; Tau protein; neurological biomarkers; serum