JOURNAL OF NEUROTRAUMA, 2010 · DOI: 10.1089=neu.2009.1051 · Published: January 1, 2010
This study investigates changes in proteins and their phosphorylation in rat spinal cords after a contusion injury. The goal is to better understand the molecular mechanisms behind spinal cord injury to find new treatment targets. The researchers used a technique called two-dimensional gel electrophoresis coupled with mass spectrometry to analyze the soluble proteins in the spinal cord tissue 24 hours after injury. They looked at both the amount of protein and the level of phosphorylation. They found that several proteins related to blood, stress response, energy metabolism, and cell structure were altered after the injury. These changes could offer clues about the biological processes involved in secondary damage after spinal cord injury.
The study identified proteins that move easily between compartments (e.g., to the cerebrospinal fluid or serum) and could be assessed in future studies for their biomarker potential.
The protein changes post injury may suggest additional avenues of investigation into the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for the pathophysiological consequences of SCI.
Studying changes in the phosphoproteome should lead to a more complete understanding of the pathogenesis of the secondary injury of SCI.