Post-traumatic brain injury antithrombin III recovers Morris water maze cognitive performance, improving cued and spatial learning

Differential expression of N-glycopeptides derived from serum glycoproteins in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an early stage of memory loss that affects cognitive abilities with the aging of individuals, such as language or visual/spatial comprehension. MCI is considered a prodromal phase of more complicated neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and better understanding of the disease prognosis will facilitate prevention of neurodegeneration. However, the existing diagnostic methods fail to provide precise and well-timed diagnoses, and the pathophysiology of MCI is not fully understood. Alterations of the serum N-glycoproteome expression could represent an essential contributor to the overall pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases and be used as a potential marker to assess MCI diagnosis using less invasive procedures. In this approach, we identified N-glycopeptides with different expressions between healthy and MCI patients from serum glycoproteins. Seven of the N-glycopeptides showed outstanding AUC values, among them the antithrombin-III Asn224 + 4-5-0-2 with an AUC value of 1.00 and a p value of 0.0004. According to proteomics and ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA), our data is in line with recent publications, and the glycoproteins carrying the identified N-sites play an important role in neurodegeneration.

Genetic patterning in hippocampus of rat undergoing impaired spatial memory induced by long-term heat stress

The organism's normal physiological function is greatly impacted in a febrile environment, leading to the manifestation of pathological conditions including elevated body temperature, dehydration, gastric bleeding, and spermatogenic dysfunction. Numerous lines of evidence indicate that heat stress significantly impacts the brain's structure and function. Previous studies have demonstrated that both animals and humans experience cognitive impairment as a result of exposure to high temperatures. However, there is a lack of research on the effects of prolonged exposure to high-temperature environments on learning and memory function, as well as the underlying molecular regulatory mechanisms. In this study, we examined the impact of long-term heat stress exposure on spatial memory function in rats and conducted transcriptome sequencing analysis of rat hippocampal tissues to identify the crucial molecular targets affected by prolonged heat stress exposure. It was found that the long-term heat stress impaired rats' spatial memory function due to the pathological damages and apoptosis of hippocampal neurons at the CA3 region, which is accompanied with the decrease of growth hormone level in peripheral blood. RNA sequencing analysis revealed the signaling pathways related to positive regulation of external stimulation response and innate immune response were dramatically affected by heat stress. Among the verified differentially expressed genes, the knockdown of Arhgap36 in neuronal cell line HT22 significantly enhances the cell apoptosis, suggesting the impaired spatial memory induced by long-term heat stress may at least partially be mediated by the dysregulation of Arhgap36 in hippocampal neurons. The uncovered relationship between molecular changes in the hippocampus and behavioral alterations induced by long-term heat stress may offer valuable insights for the development of therapeutic targets and protective drugs to enhance memory function in heat-exposed individuals.

Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharides Improves Cognitive Functions in ICV-STZ-Induced Alzheimer's Disease Mice Model by Improving the Synaptic Structural Plasticity and Regulating IRS1/PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway

Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) have a certain curative effect on hypoglycemic and neuroprotective effects, but the specific mechanism is unclear and needs to be further explored. This study aimed to clarify the mechanisms of LBP in the treatment of ICV-STZ mice model of AD from the perspectives of insulin resistance, IRS1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, and synaptic protein expression. We used male C57BL/6J mice injected with STZ (3 mg/kg) in the lateral ventricle as an AD model. After treatment with LBP, the learning and memory abilities of ICV-STZ mice were enhanced, and the pathological changes in brain tissue were alleviated. LBP can regulate the expression of proteins related to the IRS1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and thereby reducing Aβ deposition and tau protein phosphorylation in the brain of ICV-STZ mice. In addition, LBP also can up-regulate the expression of synaptic proteins. The results indicated that LBP played a neuroprotective role by regulating the IRS1/PI3K/AKT pathway, inhibiting tau protein hyperphosphorylation and improving the expression levels of synapse-related proteins.

Delayed tranexamic acid after traumatic brain injury impedes learning and memory: Early tranexamic acid is favorable but not in sham animals

BACKGROUND

Early but not late tranexamic acid (TXA) after TBI preserves blood-brain-barrier integrity, but it is unclear if and how dose timing affects cognitive recovery beyond hours postinjury. We hypothesized that early (1 hour post-TBI) but not late (24 hours post-TBI) TXA administration improves cognitive recovery for 14 days.

METHODS

CD1 male mice (n = 25) were randomized to severe TBI (injury [I], by controlled cortical impact) or sham craniotomy (S) followed by intravenous saline at 1 hour (placebo [P1]) or 30 mg/kg TXA at 1 hour (TXA1) or 24 hours (TXA24). Daily body weights, Garcia Neurological Test scores, brain/lung water content, and Morris water maze exercises quantifying swimming traffic in the platform quadrant (zone [Z] 1) and platform area (Z5) were recorded for up to 14 days.

RESULTS

Among injured groups, I-TXA1 demonstrated fastest weight gain for 14 days and only I-TXA1 showed rapid (day 1) normalization of Garcia Neurological Test ( p = 0.01 vs. I-P1, I-TXA24). In cumulative spatial trials, compared with I-TXA1, I-TXA24 hindered learning (distance to Z5 and % time in Z1, p < 0.05). Compared with I-TXA1, I-TXA24 showed poorer memory with less Z5 time (0.51 vs. 0.16 seconds, p < 0.01) and Z5 crossing frequency. Unexpectedly, TXA in uninjured animals (S-TXA1) displayed faster weight gain but inferior learning and memory.

CONCLUSION

Early TXA appears beneficial for cognitive and behavioral outcomes following TBI, although administration 24 hours postinjury consistently impairs cognitive recovery. Tranexamic acid in sham animals may lead to adverse effects on cognition.

Efficacy of Serum Antithrombin III Test in Patients With Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

Objective

Immune reactions following traumatic brain injury (TBI) cause many complications, including intravascular dissemination. Antithrombin III (AT-III) plays an important role in suppressing abnormal clot formation and ensuring hemostasis. Therefore, we investigated the efficacy of serum AT-III in patients with severe TBI.

Methods

This retrospective study included 224 patients with severe TBI who visited a single regional trauma center between 2018 and 2020. AT-III levels were measured immediately after the TBI diagnosis. AT-III deficiency was defined as an AT-III serum level <70%. Patient characteristics, injury severity, and procedures were also investigated. Patient outcomes included Glasgow Outcome Scale scores at discharge and mortality.

Results

AT-III levels were significantly lower in the AT-III deficient group (n=89; 48.27% ± 1.91%) than in the AT-III sufficient group (n = 135, 78.90% ± 1.52%) (p < 0.001). Mortality occurred in 72 of the 224 patients (33.04%), indicating that there were significantly more patients in the AT-III-deficient group (45/89, 50.6%) than in the AT-III-sufficient group (27/135, 20%). Significant risk factors for mortality included the Glasgow Coma Scale score (P = 0.003), pupil dilatation (P = 0.031), disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (P = 0.012), serum AT-III level (P = 0.033), and procedures including barbiturate coma therapy (P = 0.010). Serum AT-III levels were significantly correlated with Glasgow Outcome Scale scores at discharge (correlation coefficient = 0.455, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Patients with AT-III deficiency after severe TBI may require more intensive care during treatment, because AT-III levels reflect injury severity and correlate with mortality.

Proteomic-Based Platelet Activation-Associated Protein SELP May Be a Novel Biomarker for Coagulation and Prognostic in Essential Thrombocythemia

Abnormal platelet activation can lead to thrombosis in essential thrombocythemia (ET) and thus impact patient prognosis. Platelet activation-associated proteins are key molecules for platelet activation. However, it is unclear which proteins are most closely associated with the disease's prognosis. To determine which platelet activation-related proteins can be employed as ET patient prognosis predictors, we used label-free quantification (LFQ) and parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) technology and first determined the serum proteomic expression levels and the differential proteins of ET patients. Then, based on the IPSET (International Prognostic Score for ET), the differential protein associated with the prognostic score was found. To investigate potential processes affecting prognosis, the connection of this protein with prognostic markers, such as thrombotic history, age, white blood cell count, coagulation factors, and inflammatory factors, were further examined. The levels of platelet activation-related proteins GPIbα, SELP, PF4, MMP1, and FLNA were significantly higher in ET patients, according to LFQ and PRM analyses (p < 0.01). Based on regression analysis of the IPSET prognostic score, it is suggested that the SELP level was positively correlated with the prognostic score and prognostic risk factor analysis (p < 0.05). Further regression analysis of SELP with coagulation factors showed that antithrombin (AT-III) was negatively correlated with SELP levels (p < 0.05). Further regression analysis of the inflammatory factors with AT-III and SELP revealed that IL-10, IL-12P70, and IL-31 were negatively correlated with AT-III and SELP (p < 0.01). Platelet activation pathway-related proteins are expressed more frequently in ET patients, and serum SELP may be a prognostic marker for these individuals by encouraging leukocyte increase and inflammatory factor expression and causing aberrant coagulation.