Differential expression of microRNAs in the brains of mice subjected to increasing grade of mild traumatic brain injury

<p><i>Objective</i>: To investigate the effect of heterogeneity in mTBI on miRNA expression in mouse brain and to identify molecular pathways targeted by the modulated miRNAs.</p> <p><i>Methods</i>: A weight drop device was used to induce four increasing grades of mTBI. MiRNA expression was evaluated using TaqMan rodent miRNA arrays. Bioinformatics analysis was done using the DIANA miRPath tool and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software. Histology of brain sections was evaluated using H&E staining.</p> <p><i>Results</i>: No histologic lesions were observed in the brains of injured mice; however, significant modulation in miRNA expression profile was observed. Global miRNA profiling indicated a trend of decrease in the number of modulated miRNAs from 24 hours to day 7 post-injury, except for the most severe grade of mTBI. Canonical pathways like calcium signalling, synaptic pathways and axon guidance pathway were the major targets of the modulated miRNAs. Network correlation analyses indicated an interaction between the modulated miRNAs and putative protein biomarkers of TBI.</p> <p><i>Conclusions</i>: The data demonstrated that varying intensities of mTBI induced a differential miRNA expression profile in the brain post-injury. Pathways such as calcium and synaptic signalling were major targets of modulated miRNAs and may play a role in the pathophysiology of mTBI.</p

MicroRNA Let-7i Is a Promising Serum Biomarker for Blast-Induced Traumatic Brain Injury

Blast-induced traumatic brain injury (TBI) is of significant concern in soldiers returning from the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Incidents of TBI have increased significantly in the current conflicts compared to previous wars, and a majority of these injuries are caused by improvised explosive devices. Currently, no specific technique or biomarker is available for diagnosing TBI when no obvious clinical symptoms are present. MicroRNAs are small RNA (∼ 22nts) molecules that are expressed endogenously and play an important role in regulating gene expression. MicroRNAs have emerged as novel serum diagnostic biomarkers for various diseases. In this study, we studied the effect of blast overpressure injury on the microRNA signatures in the serum of rats. Rats were exposed to three serial 120-kPa blast overpressure exposures through a shockwave tube. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid were collected at various time points after injury, and microRNA modulation was analyzed using real-time PCR. Five microRNAs were significantly modulated in the serum samples of these animals at three time points post-injury. Further, we also found that the levels of microRNA let-7i are also elevated in cerebrospinal fluid post-blast wave exposure. The presence of microRNA in both serum and cerebrospinal fluid immediately after injury makes microRNA let-7i an ideal candidate for further studies of biomarkers in TBI

Identification of Serum MicroRNA Signatures for Diagnosis of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in a Closed Head Injury Model

<div><p>Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have highlighted the problems of diagnosis and treatment of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). MTBI is a heterogeneous injury that may lead to the development of neurological and behavioral disorders. In the absence of specific diagnostic markers, mTBI is often unnoticed or misdiagnosed. In this study, mice were induced with increasing levels of mTBI and microRNA (miRNA) changes in the serum were determined. MTBI was induced by varying weight and fall height of the impactor rod resulting in four different severity grades of the mTBI. Injuries were characterized as mild by assessing with the neurobehavioral severity scale-revised (NSS-R) at day 1 post injury. Open field locomotion and acoustic startle response showed behavioral and sensory motor deficits in 3 of the 4 injury groups at day 1 post injury. All of the animals recovered after day 1 with no significant neurobehavioral alteration by day 30 post injury. Serum microRNA (miRNA) profiles clearly differentiated injured from uninjured animals. Overall, the number of miRNAs that were significantly modulated in injured animals over the sham controls increased with the severity of the injury. Thirteen miRNAs were found to identify mTBI regardless of its severity within the mild spectrum of injury. Bioinformatics analyses revealed that the more severe brain injuries were associated with a greater number of miRNAs involved in brain related functions. The evaluation of serum miRNA may help to identify the severity of brain injury and the risk of developing adverse effects after TBI.</p></div

Expression of miRNAs in individual real time PCR assay.

<p>The fold upregulation of three miRNAs, miR-376a, miR-214 and miR-199a-3p, in the injury groups over the sham mice was validated using the individual real time PCR assays. Similar to the miRNA arrays, expression of the three miRNAs was found to be up regulated in the injured groups over the sham animals. Data presented is the fold up regulation (± SEM; *<i>P</i><0.05) calculated from the mean DDCt value obtained from three biological samples for each injury group. Statistical significance was calculated using the individual Ct values obtained from the three biological replicates for each injury group.</p

Significantly modulated miRNA in IS3.

<p>One hundred and sixteen miRNA were significantly modulated. Of these, 70 were up regulated and 46 were down regulated. Values are given as Log10 of the fold change (2^{−(mean ΔΔCt)}).</p><p>Significantly modulated miRNA in IS3.</p

H&E stained sections of the brain.

<p>Histological evaluation of the brain tissue at the site of injury (arrow) was done to check for the lesion in the brain tissue following mTBI. No significant difference was observed in brain tissue sections between the sham (A), IS1 (B), IS2 (C), IS3 (D) and IS4 (E). Scale is 1 mm.</p

NSS-R for animals at day 1 post injury.

<p>Change scores between day 1 post injury and baseline were calculated. A gradual, but significant increase in the NSS-R scores were observed day 1 post injury with the increased severity of the injury within the mild spectrum. As expected, naïve and sham groups did not show any increase in their NSS-R scores. No change was observed in the IS1 group. NSS-R score of IS2, IS3, and IS4 groups increased and was the highest among the IS4 group. * <i>P value</i> <0.05.</p

Neurobehavioral Activity.

<p>OFL test was conducted to evaluate animals' various activities in an open field as a measurement of behavioral deficits. Overall, day 1 showed significant reductions in the activities of injured animals as compared to the naïve and sham controls except for the IS1 group, which was not significantly different from that of naïve and sham groups. (<b>A</b>) Horizontal activity was evaluated as an indicator of the overall health. Activity was significantly reduced in the IS3 and IS4 groups. Activity in the IS2 group was significantly reduced as compared to the activity of IS1. Activity of IS1 and IS2 groups were not significantly different from the sham group. (<b>B</b>) Time spent in the center of the open field was evaluated as an indicator of anxiety-like behavior. Center time of the animals in IS3 and IS4 groups was reduced as compared to the 246 g injury groups (<i>i.e.</i>, IS1 and IS2), sham and naïve animals. The reduction in activity reached significance in the IS3. (<b>C</b>) Vertical activity was measured as an indicator of depression-related behavior. Vertical activity of the injured animals was significantly less than that of the sham and naïve animals except the IS1 group. * <i>P value</i> <0.05. (<b>D</b>) Startle response was measured as an indicator of emotional distress and potential sensory gating impairments. Startle responses of all injured groups, except the IS1 group, were reduced when compared to naïve and sham groups at day 1 post injury. There were no differences between groups at days 14 and 30 post injury, except in the IS4 group where the startle response was significantly higher than all other groups at day 14 post injury. Values are expressed as Mean ± SEM. * <i>P value</i> <0.05.</p

Involvement of significantly modulated miRNA in axon guidance pathway.

<p>Quantitative bioinformatics analysis on the number of miRNA involved in the axon guidance pathway was done using IPA. The number of the significantly modulated miRNAs that were predicted to modulate axon guidance pathway increased with the severity of the injury.</p