Effect of CHRFAM7A Δ2bp gene variant on secondary inflammation after spinal cord injury

PLoS ONE, 2021 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0251110 · Published: May 6, 2021

Simple Explanation

This study investigates how a specific gene variant (CHRFAM7A Δ2bp) affects inflammation after spinal cord injury (SCI). This gene variant impacts the function of α7nAChRs, which are important for controlling inflammation. The researchers looked at 45 SCI patients, tracking inflammatory markers in their blood and monitoring neuropathic pain and pressure ulcer risk. The findings suggest that this gene variant influences the inflammatory response and clinical outcomes after SCI, with different effects depending on the severity of the injury.

Study Duration

Up to six weeks post SCI

Participants

45 SCI patients (7 females and 38 males, age 18–67 years)

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
In severe SCI patients, carriers of the Δ2bp variant showed higher levels of circulating inflammatory mediators compared to non-carriers.
2
In mild SCI, the Δ2bp carriers had lower circulating levels of IL-15 than the Δ2bp non-carriers.
3
In mild SCI Δ2bp carriers, risk of pressure ulcers was positively associated with circulating levels of IFN-γ, CXCL10, and CCL4 and negatively associated with circulating levels of IL-12p70.

Research Summary

This study investigated the role of the CHRFAM7AΔ2bp variant in inflammation following spinal cord injury (SCI) in 45 patients, stratified by injury severity. Results indicated that the Δ2bp variant impacts inflammatory responses differently based on SCI severity; severe SCI patients carrying the variant exhibited elevated inflammatory mediators, while mild SCI patients showed decreased levels of IL-15. The study also found associations between the Δ2bp variant, specific inflammatory mediators, and clinical outcomes like neuropathic pain and pressure ulcer risk, suggesting the variant influences clinical outcomes following SCI.

Practical Implications

Personalized Treatment

Understanding a patient's CHRFAM7A Δ2bp variant status could help tailor anti-inflammatory treatments after SCI.

Risk Assessment

Identifying Δ2bp carriers in mild SCI could help predict and prevent pressure ulcer development through targeted interventions.

Drug Development

The CHRFAM7A gene and its variants may serve as targets for developing new drugs to modulate inflammation and improve outcomes after SCI.

Study Limitations

1
SCI is a complex traumatic injury with several confounding factors.
2
The inflammatory mediators measured in this study represent a subset of factors that can contribute to an individual’s response to the injury.
3
Our results should be interpreted with caution until a larger study population is recruited and the study replicated.

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