title: Moderate blast exposure results in increased IL-6 and TNFα in peripheral blood.
abstract: A unique cohort of military personnel exposed to isolated blast was studied to explore acute peripheral cytokine levels, with the aim of identifying blast-specific biomarkers. Several cytokines, including interleukin (IL) 6, IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) have been linked to pre-clinical blast exposure, but remained unstudied in clinical blast exposure. To address this gap, blood samples from 62 military personnel were obtained at baseline, and daily, during a 10-day blast-related training program; changes in the peripheral concentrations of IL-6, IL-10 and TNFα were evaluated using an ultrasensitive assay. Two groups of trainees were matched on age, duration of military service, and previous history of blast exposure(s), resulting in moderate blast cases and no/low blast controls. Blast exposures were measured using helmet sensors that determined the average peak pressure in pounds per square inch (psi). Moderate blast cases had significantly elevated concentrations of IL-6 (F1,60=18.81, p<0.01) and TNFα (F1,60=12.03, p<0.01) compared to no/low blast controls; levels rebounded to baseline levels the day after blast. On the day of the moderate blast exposure, the extent of the overpressure (psi) in those exposed correlated with IL-6 (r=0.46, p<0.05) concentrations. These findings indicate that moderate primary blast exposure results in changes, specifically acute and transient increases in peripheral inflammatory markers which may have implications for neuronal health.
authors.affiliation: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Nursing Research, United States. Electronic address: gillj@mail.nih.gov.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.affiliation: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Nursing Research, United States. Electronic address: Vida.Motamedi@nih.gov.
authors.forename: Vida
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Motamedi
authors.affiliation: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Nursing Research, United States. Electronic address: Nicole.Osier@nih.gov.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Osier
authors.affiliation: Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, United States. Electronic address: kristine.dell@nih.gov.
authors.forename: Kristine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dell
authors.affiliation: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Nursing Research, United States. Electronic address: larcurio@mail.nih.gov.
authors.forename: Lindsay
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arcurio
authors.affiliation: USARMY MEDCOM USAMRMC, United States. Electronic address: walter.s.carr.mil@mail.mil.
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.affiliation: Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, United States. Electronic address: Peter.b.walker.mil@mail.mil.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, United States. Electronic address: stephen.t.ahlers.civ@mail.mil.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahlers
authors.affiliation: Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, United States. Electronic address: matthew.l.lopresti.mil@mail.mil.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lopresti
authors.affiliation: Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, United States. Electronic address: angela.m.yarnell.mil@mail.mil.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yarnell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001930:Brain Injuries; D000070642:Brain Injuries, Traumatic / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; C508609:IL10 protein, human; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10
keywords: Blast; Cytokines; Inflammation; Military; Traumatic brain injury (TBI)