학술논문
Saliva microRNA Biomarkers of Cumulative Concussion
Document Type
article
Author
Steven D. Hicks; Robert P. Olympia; Cayce Onks; Raymond Y. Kim; Kevin J. Zhen; Gregory Fedorchak; Samantha DeVita; Aakanksha Rangnekar; Matthew Heller; Hallie Zwibel; Chuck Monteith; Zofia Gagnon; Callan D. McLoughlin; Jason Randall; Miguel Madeira; Thomas R. Campbell; Elise Fengler; Michael N. Dretsch; Christopher Neville; Frank A. Middleton
Source
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Vol 21, Iss 20, p 7758 (2020)
Subject
Language
English
ISSN
1422-0067
1661-6596
1661-6596
Abstract
Recurrent concussions increase risk for persistent post-concussion symptoms, and may lead to chronic neurocognitive deficits. Little is known about the molecular pathways that contribute to persistent concussion symptoms. We hypothesized that salivary measurement of microribonucleic acids (miRNAs), a class of epitranscriptional molecules implicated in concussion pathophysiology, would provide insights about the molecular cascade resulting from recurrent concussions. This hypothesis was tested in a case-control study involving 13 former professional football athletes with a history of recurrent concussion, and 18 age/sex-matched peers. Molecules of interest were further validated in a cross-sectional study of 310 younger individuals with a history of no concussion (n = 230), a single concussion (n = 56), or recurrent concussions (n = 24). There was no difference in neurocognitive performance between the former professional athletes and their peers, or among younger individuals with varying concussion exposures. However, younger individuals without prior concussion outperformed peers with prior concussion on three balance assessments. Twenty salivary miRNAs differed (adj. p < 0.05) between former professional athletes and their peers. Two of these (miR-28-3p and miR-339-3p) demonstrated relationships (p < 0.05) with the number of prior concussions reported by younger individuals. miR-28-3p and miR-339-5p may play a role in the pathophysiologic mechanism involved in cumulative concussion effects.