Abstract:

Objective To investigate the change of serum Nogo-A protein in patients with acute closed brain injury, and explore its relationship with the severity of neuronal damage and prognosis. Methods Thirty-one patients with acute closed brain injury were enrolled. Venous blood samples (2 mL) were obtained 1, 3 and 5 d after injury. Serum concentrations of Nogo-A protein were determined by ELISA. Patients were divided into mild （n=7）, moderate （n=10） and severe （n=14） injury groups according to Glasgow coma score (GCS), and were divided into favorable prognosis (n=23) and poor prognosis (n=8) groups according to Glasgow outcome score (GOS). Another 20 healthy adults were served as controls. Results The mass concentrations of serum Nogo-A protein in mild, moderate and severe injury groups 1, 3, 5 d after injury were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.01), and the mass concentrations of serum Nogo-A protein in moderate and severe injury groups 1, 3, 5 d after injury were significantly higher than those in mild injury group （P<0.05, P<0.01）. The mass concentrations of serum Nogo-A protein 1, 3, 5 d after injury were significantly higher in poor prognosis group than those in favourable prognosis group (P<0.01). Conclusion Serum Nogo-A protein level significantly increases after brain injury, and is related to the degree of injury and prognosis.

Key words: Nogo-A, brain injury, axonal regeneration, prognosis