Gene Expression Alterations in Peripheral Blood Following Sport-Related Concussion in a Prospective Cohort of Collegiate Athletes: A Concussion Assessment, Research and Education (CARE) Consortium Study
Year: 2023
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Molecular-based approaches to understanding concussion pathophysiology provide complex biological information that can advance concussion research and identify potential diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarkers of injury. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify gene expression changes in peripheral blood that are initiated following concussion and are relevant to concussion response and recovery. METHODS: We analyzed whole blood transcriptomes in a large cohort of concussed and control collegiate athletes who were participating in the multicenter prospective cohort Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education (CARE) Consortium study. Blood samples were collected from collegiate athletes at preseason (baseline), within 6 h of concussion injury, and at four additional prescribed time points spanning 24 h to 6 months post-injury. RNA sequencing was performed on samples from 230 concussed, 130 contact control, and 102 non-contact control athletes. Differential gene expression and deconvolution analysis were performed at each time point relative to baseline. RESULTS: Cytokine and immune response signaling pathways were activated immediately after concussion, but at later time points these pathways appeared to be suppressed relative to the contact control group. We also found that the proportion of neutrophils increased and natural killer cells decreased in the blood following concussion. CONCLUSIONS: Transcriptome signatures in the blood reflect the known pathophysiology of concussion and may be useful for defining the immediate biological response and the time course for recovery. In addition, the identified immune response pathways and changes in immune cell type proportions following a concussion may inform future treatment strategies.
Source: Sports Medicine
Authors: Edward Simpson, Jill L. Reiter, Jie Ren, Zhiqi Zhang, Kelly N. Nudelman, Larry D. Riggen, Michael D. Menser, Jaroslaw Harezlak, Tatiana M. Foroud, Andrew J. Saykin, Alison Brooks, Kenneth L. Cameron, Stefan M. Duma, Gerald McGinty, Steven Rowson, Steven J. Svoboda, Steven P. Broglio, Michael A. McCrea, Paul F. Pasquina, Thomas W. McAllister, Yunlong Liu, Darren Campbell, Jonathan Jackson, Megan Houston, Christopher Giza, Joshua Goldman, Kevin Guskiewicz, Jason P. Mihalik
Institutions: Indiana University Indianapolis, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana University, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, United States Military Academy, Keller Army Community Hospital, Virginia Tech, United States Air Force Academy, University of Michigan, Medical College of Wisconsin, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, United States Army, Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $5,190
Funders: U.S. Department of Defense, Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, National Collegiate Athletic Association, National Institutes of Health, University of California, Los Angeles, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Combat Casualty Care Research Program, National Center for Research Resources, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity
Awards: G3047507978, G3287148826, G3754633476, G3821986886, G3970896122, G4437163022, EXTRAMURAL RESEARCH FACILITIES IMPROVEMENT, THE NCAA-DOD GRAND ALLIANCE: CONCUSSION ASSESSMENT, RESEARCH, AND EDUCATION (CARE) CONSORTIUM, G4954646042, G5472813502, G6223059496, G645299315, G6875631655, G7139631174, G724942601, Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, G7944597372
OpenAlex ID: W4388492663