Blast exposure results in tau and neurofilament light chain changes in peripheral blood

Katie A Edwards; Jacqueline J Leete; Anna E Tschiffely; Candace Y Moore; Kristine C Dell; Jonathan K Statz; Walter Carr; Peter B Walker; Matthew L LoPresti; Stephen T Ahlers; Angela M Yarnell; Jessica Gill

doi:10.1080/02699052.2020.1797171

Blast exposure results in tau and neurofilament light chain changes in peripheral blood

Brain Inj. 2020 Jul 28;34(9):1213-1221. doi: 10.1080/02699052.2020.1797171. Epub 2020 Aug 5.

Authors

Katie A Edwards^{1

2}, Jacqueline J Leete¹, Anna E Tschiffely³, Candace Y Moore¹, Kristine C Dell⁴, Jonathan K Statz^{2

3}, Walter Carr⁵, Peter B Walker^{6

7

8

9}, Matthew L LoPresti¹⁰, Stephen T Ahlers¹¹, Angela M Yarnell¹¹, Jessica Gill^{1

12}

Affiliations

¹ National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health , Bethesda, MD, USA.
² Henry M. Jackson Foundation, Bethesda, MD, USA.
³ Department of Neurotrauma, Naval Medical Research Center , Silver Spring, MD, USA.
⁴ Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
⁵ Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, USA.
⁶ Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, Arlington, VA, USA.
⁷ National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
⁸ Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville , VA, USA.
⁹ Military Emergency Medicine Department, Uniformed Services, University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda , MD, USA.
¹⁰ Center for Military Psychiatry & Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
¹¹ Operational & Undersea Medicine Directorate, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
¹² Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda , MD, USA.

PMID: 32755419
DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2020.1797171

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate how blast exposure impacts peripheral biomarkers.

in military personnel enrolled in 10-day blast training.

Methods: On day 7, 21 military personnel experienced peak overpressure <2 pounds per square inch (psi); while 29 military personnel experienced peak overpressure ≥5 psi. Blood samples were collected each day to measure changes in amyloid beta (Aβ), neurofilament light chain (NFL), and tau concentrations.

Results: Within 24 hours following exposure ≥5 psi, the ≥5 psi group had lower Aβ42 (p = .004) and NFL (p < .001) compared to the <2 psi group and lower Aβ42 (9.35%) and NFL (22.01%) compared to baseline. Twenty-four hours after ≥5 psi exposure, the ≥5 psi group had lower tau (p < .001) and NFL (p < .001) compared to the <2 psi group and baseline. Seventy-two hours after exposure ≥5 psi, tau increased in the ≥5 psi group compared to the <2 psi group (p = .02) and baseline. The tau:Aβ42 ratio 24 hours after blast (p = .012), and the Aβ40:Aβ42 ratio 48 hours after blast (p = .04) differed in the ≥5 psi group compared to the <2 psi group.

Conclusions: These findings provide an initial report of acute alterations in biomarker concentrations following blast exposure.

Keywords: Blast exposure; military; neurofilament light chain (NFL); peripheral biomarkers; tau.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Amyloid beta-Peptides*
Biomarkers
Humans
Intermediate Filaments
Military Personnel*
Neurofilament Proteins
tau Proteins

Substances

Amyloid beta-Peptides
Biomarkers
Neurofilament Proteins
tau Proteins