title: Long-term neuroglobin expression of human astrocytes following brain trauma.
abstract: Neuroglobin (Ngb), a 17 kDa monomeric protein, was initially described as a vertebrate oxygen-binding heme protein in 2000 and detected in metabolically active organs or cells, like the brain, peripheral nervous system as well as certain endocrine cells. A large array of initial experimental work reported that Ngb displayed a neuron restricted expression pattern in mammalian brains. However, growing evidence indicated astrocytes may also express Ngb under pathological conditions. To address the question whether human astrocytes express Ngb under traumatic insults, we investigated Ngb immuno-reactivity in post-mortem human brain tissues that died of acute, sub-acute and chronic brain trauma, respectively. We observed astrocytic Ngb expression in sub-acute and chronic traumatic brains rather than acute traumatic brains. Strikingly, the Ngb immuno-reactive astrocytes were still strongly detectable in groups that died 12 months after brain trauma. Our findings may imply an unexplored role of Ngb in astrocytes and the involved mechanisms were suggested to be further characterized. Also, therapeutic application of Ngb or Ngb-inducible chemical compounds in neuro-genesis or astrocytic scar forming can be expected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Pathology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiameng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Pathology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Translational Medicine, West China Institute of Women and Children's Health, Key Laboratory of Obstetric & Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: The People's Procuratorate of Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Pathology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Haibiao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Pathology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Pathology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China. Electronic address: guanpengcn@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guan
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000378:metabolism*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005914:Globins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000078787:Neuroglobin; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000078787:Neuroglobin; D005914:Globins
keywords: Astrocyte; Chronic; Neuroglobin; Sub-acute; TBI