Repeated Low-Level Blast Exposure Alters Urinary And Serum Metabolites

Author

Austin Sigler
Jiandong Wu, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyFollow
Annalise Pfaff
Olajide Adetunji
Paul Ki-souk Nam, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyFollow
Donald James
Casey Burton
Honglan Shi, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyFollow

Abstract

Repeated exposure to low-level blast overpressures can produce biological changes and clinical sequelae that resemble mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). While recent efforts have revealed several protein biomarkers for axonal injury during repetitive blast exposure, this study aims to explore potential small molecule biomarkers of brain injury during repeated blast exposure. This study evaluated a panel of ten small molecule metabolites involved in neurotransmission, oxidative stress, and energy metabolism in the urine and serum of military personnel (n = 27) conducting breacher training with repeated exposure to low-level blasts. The metabolites were analyzed using HPLC—tandem mass spectrometry, and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for statistical analysis to compare the levels of pre-blast and post-blast exposures. Urinary levels of homovanillic acid (p < 0.0001), linoleic acid (p = 0.0030), glutamate (p = 0.0027), and serum N-acetylaspartic acid (p = 0.0006) were found to be significantly altered following repeated blast exposure. Homovanillic acid concentration decreased continuously with subsequent repeat exposure. These results suggest that repeated low-level blast exposures can produce measurable changes in urine and serum metabolites that may aid in identifying individuals at increased risk of sustaining a TBI. Larger clinical studies are needed to extend the generalizability of these findings.

Recommended Citation

A. Sigler et al., "Repeated Low-Level Blast Exposure Alters Urinary And Serum Metabolites," Metabolites, vol. 13, no. 5, article no. 638, MDPI, May 2023.

The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13050638

Department(s)

Chemistry

Second Department

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

Publication Status

Open Access

Comments

Army Research Laboratory, Grant W911NF-14-2-0034

Keywords and Phrases

biomarkers; blast exposure; homovanillic acid

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

2218-1989

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Final Version

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2023 The Authors, All rights reserved.

Creative Commons Licensing

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Publication Date

01 May 2023