Year: 2024
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Sport-related concussions (SRC) are known to induce various physiological changes, likely including alterations in micro-RNA (miRNA) expression. However, research to date has inadequately stratified these analyses by sex and has not fully explored the functional implications of the altered miRNA. The thesis aimed to assess differences in miRNA expression between male and female participants with SRC and healthy controls, and to investigate the biological significance of these differences. In this prospective cohort study, peripheral blood miRNA expression levels were analyzed in athletes approximately four days following a SRC, compared to healthy athletes. The findings revealed sex-specific differences: males with SRC exhibited alterations in 80 miRNA transcripts, while females showed changes in only eight transcripts. Enrichment analysis of these altered miRNA transcripts identified several biological processes, and potential cellular sources particularly impacted in males, many of which are associated with key aspects of concussion pathobiology. These results highlight the potential role of miRNA in the pathobiology of SRC and emphasize the critical importance of accounting for sex differences in SRC research.
Source: TSpace (University of Toronto)
Author: Ammendolia Tomé, Genevieve
Institution: University of Toronto
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7132997520