Discussion
These results suggest that there are not definitive patterns of changes in these marker proteins with increase in intensity and/or frequency of blast exposure in any particular region; the changes in expression of these proteins are different among the regions. We also found that the orientation of blast exposure (e.g. front vs. side exposure) affects the altered expression of these proteins.
Methods
In this study, using a rodent model of relBOP and western blotting for protein expression we showed the differential expression of various neuropathological proteins like TDP-43, tight junction proteins (claudin-5, occludin, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)) and a mechanosensitive protein (piezo-2) in different regions of the brain at different intensities and frequency of blast.
Results
Our key results include (i) significant increase in claudin-5 after 1x blast of 6.5 psi in all three regions and no definitive pattern with higher number of blasts, (ii) significant increase in piezo-2 at 1x followed by significant decrease after multiple blasts in the cortex, (iii) significant increase in piezo-2 with increasing number of blasts in frontal cortex and mixed pattern of expression in hippocampus and (iv) mixed pattern of TDP-3 and GFAP expression in all the regions of brain.