Transcriptional Factors and Protein Biomarkers as Target Therapeutics in Traumatic Spinal Cord and Brain Injury

Current Neuropharmacology, 2020 · DOI: 10.2174/1570159X18666200522203542 · Published: May 7, 2020

Spinal Cord Injury Neurology Brain Injury

Simple Explanation

Traumatic injuries to the spinal cord (SCI) and brain (TBI) are serious health problems affecting many people every year, impacting patients and their families socially and financially. SCI and TBI lead to neurological dysfunction, inflammation, ischemia, necrosis, and progressive neurodegeneration, involving changes in gene expression and protein levels. Modulating transcriptional factors and protein biomarkers could improve the patient’s quality of life by targeting both SCI and TBI.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Not specified

Evidence Level

Review Article

Key Findings

1
NF-κB is a key molecule in secondary damage caused by inflammation after an injury and is essential for the inflammatory response of macrophages, microglia, and astrocytes.
2
ATF3 and ATF4 are upregulated in neurons after axotomy and ischemia, with ATF3 promoting regeneration in adult zebrafish.
3
Olig1 is essential for the differentiation of oligodendrocytes and remyelination, and a treatment that activates both Olig1 and Olig2 might have the most promising effect on remyelination after SCI.

Research Summary

This review highlights the role of transcription factors and protein biomarkers in the progression of SCI and TBI, emphasizing their potential as therapeutic targets. Clinical observations and MRI imaging are widely used predictors for functional recovery following trauma, but cannot sufficiently predict a patient’s response to drug candidates. Protein biomarkers offer a new approach to patient care, with the potential to predict injury severity and assist in developing new clinical therapeutics.

Practical Implications

Targeted Therapies

Identifying and modulating specific transcription factors and protein biomarkers can lead to more effective therapies for SCI and TBI.

Improved Prognosis

Protein biomarkers in biofluids can help predict injury severity and treatment response, leading to better patient management.

Drug Development

Understanding the precise contribution of each transcription factor/protein biomarker to each stage after trauma can aid in the development of new drugs.

Study Limitations

1
Clinical observations cannot sufficiently predict a patient’s response to drug candidates.
2
The precise contribution of each transcription factor/protein biomarker to each stage after trauma including neuronal death and repair needs to be defined.
3
There are only a few clinical studies related to protein biomarkers

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