Biomarkers of blast-induced neurotrauma: profiling molecular and cellular mechanisms of blast brain injury

• Published in: Journal of neurotrauma Vol. 26; no. 6; pp. 913 - 921
• Main Authors: Svetlov, Stanislav I, Larner, Stephen F, Kirk, Daniel R, Atkinson, Joseph, Hayes, Ronald L, Wang, Kevin K W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Mary Ann Liebert, Inc 01.06.2009; Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers
• Subjects: Animal models in research; Animals; Biological markers; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - analysis; Biomarkers - metabolism; Blast Injuries - complications; Blast Injuries - physiopathology; Brain; Brain - metabolism; Brain - pathology; Brain - physiopathology; Brain damage; Brain Injuries - etiology; Brain Injuries - metabolism; Brain Injuries - physiopathology; Cellular biology; Cerebral Arteries - metabolism; Cerebral Arteries - pathology; Cerebral Arteries - physiopathology; Explosions; Humans; Inflammation Mediators - analysis; Inflammation Mediators - metabolism; Injuries; Models, Biological; Molecular biology; Nerve Tissue Proteins - analysis; Nerve Tissue Proteins - metabolism; Original; Signal Transduction - physiology; United States
• ISSN: 0897-7151; 1557-9042
• DOI: 10.1089/neu.2008.0609

The nature of warfare in the 21st century has led to a significant increase in primary blast or over-pressurization injuries to the whole body and head, which manifest as a complex of neuro-somatic damage, including traumatic brain injury (TBI). Identifying relevant pathogenic pathways in reproducible experimental models of primary blast wave exposure is therefore vital to the development of biomarkers for diagnostics of blast brain injury. Comparative analysis of mechanisms and putative biomarkers of blast brain injury is complicated by a deficiency of experimental studies. In this article, we present an overview of current TBI biomarkers, as well as outline experimental strategies to investigate molecular signatures of blast neurotrauma and to develop a pathway network map for novel biomarker discovery. These biomarkers will be effective for triaging and managing both combat and civilian casualities.