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. 2017 Oct:65:90-94.
doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2017.02.015. Epub 2017 Feb 21.

Moderate blast exposure results in increased IL-6 and TNFα in peripheral blood

Jessica Gill  1 , Vida Motamedi  2 , Nicole Osier  3 , Kristine Dell  4 , Lindsay Arcurio  5 , Walter Carr  6 , Peter Walker  7 , Stephen Ahlers  8 , Matthew Lopresti  9 , Angela Yarnell  10
Affiliations

Moderate blast exposure results in increased IL-6 and TNFα in peripheral blood

Jessica Gill et al. Brain Behav Immun. 2017 Oct.

Erratum in

Abstract

A unique cohort of military personnel exposed to isolated blast was studied to explore acute peripheral cytokine levels, with the aim of identifying blast-specific biomarkers. Several cytokines, including interleukin (IL) 6, IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) have been linked to pre-clinical blast exposure, but remained unstudied in clinical blast exposure. To address this gap, blood samples from 62 military personnel were obtained at baseline, and daily, during a 10-day blast-related training program; changes in the peripheral concentrations of IL-6, IL-10 and TNFα were evaluated using an ultrasensitive assay. Two groups of trainees were matched on age, duration of military service, and previous history of blast exposure(s), resulting in moderate blast cases and no/low blast controls. Blast exposures were measured using helmet sensors that determined the average peak pressure in pounds per square inch (psi). Moderate blast cases had significantly elevated concentrations of IL-6 (F1,60=18.81, p<0.01) and TNFα (F1,60=12.03, p<0.01) compared to no/low blast controls; levels rebounded to baseline levels the day after blast. On the day of the moderate blast exposure, the extent of the overpressure (psi) in those exposed correlated with IL-6 (r=0.46, p<0.05) concentrations. These findings indicate that moderate primary blast exposure results in changes, specifically acute and transient increases in peripheral inflammatory markers which may have implications for neuronal health.

Keywords: Blast; Cytokines; Inflammation; Military; Traumatic brain injury (TBI).

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Comparison of moderate blast cases and no/low blast controls on inflammatory cytokine levels. Baseline (day 1) levels of IL-6 and TNFα are shown, as well as changes from these baseline levels to days 6, 7 and 8. There was no significant change in the total number of mood symptoms (p=0.22), or a single symptom (p’s= 0.12–0.37) between the groups.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Correlation between IL-6 and average peak overpressure on the day 7 (when cases experienced moderate blast exposure (training day 7).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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