Glial fibrillary acidic protein levels are associated with global histone H4 acetylation after spinal cord injury in rats

Emerging evidence has suggested global histone H4 acetylation status plays an important role in neural plasticity. For instance, the imbalance of this epigenetic marker has been hypothesized as a key factor for the development and progression of several neurological diseases. Likewise, astrocytic reactivity-a wellknown process that markedly influences the tissue remodeling after a central nervous system injury-is crucial for tissue remodeling after spinal cord injury（SCI）. However, the linkage between the above-mentioned mechanisms after SCI remains poorly understood. We sought to investigate the relation between both glial fibrillary acidic protein（GFAP） and S100 calcium-binding protein B（S100B）（astrocytic reactivity classical markers） and global histone H4 acetylation levels. Sixty-one male Wistar rats（aged ~3 months） were divided into the following groups： sham; 6 hours post-SCI; 24 hours post-SCI; 48 hours post-SCI; 72 hours post-SCI; and 7 days post-SCI. The results suggested that GFAP, but not S100B was associated with global histone H4 acetylation levels. Moreover, global histone H4 acetylation levels exhibited a complex pattern after SCI, encompassing at least three clearly defined phases（first phase： no changes in the 6, 24 and 48 hours post-SCI groups; second phase： increased levels in the 72 hours post-SCI group; and a third phase： return to levels similar to control in the 7 days post-SCI group）. Overall, these findings suggest global H4 acetylation levels exhibit distinct patterns of expression during the first week post-SCI, which may be associated with GFAP levels in the perilesional tissue. Current data encourage studies using H4 acetylation as a possible biomarker for tissue remodeling after spinal cord injury.

Association of Serum Antioxidant Enzymes and Nervous Tissue Markers in Hypertensive Patients

Background and Purpose: Hypertension has serious effects on cerebral blood vessels. Oxidative stress seems to be implicated in blood pressure elevation, through increased reactive oxygen species and/or decreased antioxidant capacity. Recently blood markers indicating damage to the central nervous system were reported to be increased in hypertensive patients. However, it is unknown whether antioxidant capacity is related to these changes. This study was designed to explore if the concentration of blood markers for nervous tissue damage was associated to antioxidant capacity in hypertensive patients. Methods: Twenty hypertensive patients and 23 healthy controls were studied. They were paired by age, sex, ethnicity, or risk factors. Serum neuron specific enolase (NSE) and S100 calcium binding protein B (S100B) were measured as nervous tissue damage markers, as well as the activity of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and gamma-glutamyltransferase). Results: Serum neuronal specific enolase (NSE) and S100 calcium binding protein B (S100B) concentrations determined by immunoassay were significantly increased in patients vs. controls. The activities of antioxidant enzymes measured by spectrophotometry showed that plasmatic catalase and erythrocytic glutathione peroxidase were significantly increased in patients, but erythocytic catalase was decreased. Gamma-glutamyltransferase activity was significantly correlated with S100B in hypertensive patients, while erythrocytic catalase activity was decreased in subjects with higher NSE levels. Conclusion: This preliminary investigation suggested that antioxidant status might be modulated through changes in antioxidant enzymatic activity in hypertensive patients. The association of some of these changes with peripheral markers of damage to the central nervous system could indicate that the increased levels of these proteins in hypertension are partly related to oxidative stress.

Dynamic change of serum protein S100b and its clinical significance in patients with traumatic brain injury

Objective: To analyze the dynamic change of serum protein S100b in patients with traumatic brain injury and its clinical value in assessing brain damage. Methods: According to Glasgow coma scale (GCS), 102 cases of traumatic brain injury were divided into mild brain injury group (GCS≥13, n=31, Group A), moderate brain injury group (8<GCS<13, n=37, Group B) and severe brain injury group (GCS≤8, n=34, Group C). Serial S100b concentrations were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in blood samples taken on admission, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h and 7 days after traumatic brain injury. Results: The severe brain injury group showed significantly higher concentration of serum S100b, with earlier increase and longer duration, than the mild and moderate brain injury groups. The patients with higher S100b exhibited lower GCS scores and poor clinical prognosis. The increase in S100b could emerge before clinical image evidence indicated so. Conclusions: Serum S100b can be used as a sensitive index for assessment and prediction of traumatic brain injury severity and prognosis.

Scalp Acupoints Penetration in Treating Acute Hypertensive Intracerebral Hemorrhage and Its Correlativity with Serum S100B Protein

Objective： To research the clinical curative effect and explore the mechanism of penetrating of scalp-point on acute hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage （ICH）. Methods： 66 patients were randomly divided into two groups： one is the scalp-point therapeutic group, the other is the western medicine group. The two groups were all treated by dehydration, etc. In addition, there are 20 normal people to be set as the healthy group. To select the nervous functional deficit mark, activity of daily living （ADL） form, the amount S-100B protein as indexes and analysis the results. Results： the recordings indicate the patients＇ Serum S-100B protein are related with nervous functional deficiency mark. After 28 days, the recovery of patients＇ nervous function of scalp acupuncture group was obviously superior to that of control group （P〈0.05）. Conclusions： The results suggested that the patients＇ Serum S-100B had positive correlation with nervous functional deficit; The penetrating of scalp-point had the better regulatory effect on the level of Serum S-100B, and could improve the nervous functional deficit and ADL, so as to improve the coordination and compensation function and the general nervous function between cortical functional areas

SIOOB protein and its clinical effect on craniocerebra injury

Objective： To explore the role of S100B protein in the early diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis judgement of craniocerebral injury. Methods： In this study, we reviewed the domestic and foreign research reports about the relationship between S100B protein and craniocerebral injury. Results： The concentration of S100B protein had a different increase based on the degree of injury in early stage after craniocerebral injury, and the increasing degree of S100B protein showed a positive correlation with the grading of pathogenetic condition and prognosis of craniocerebral injury. Conclusions： S100B protein may be taken as a specific index of early diagnosis, grading of pathogenetic condition, and prognosis judgement after craniocerebral injury. To grasp and regulate the mechanism of neurotoxicity and to elucidate the therapeutic effect of S100B protein will be a research direction in clinical treatment of craniocerebral injury.