Untargeted blood serum proteomics identifies novel proteins related to neurological recovery after human spinal cord injury

This study looked for proteins in the blood that could predict recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI). Researchers compared blood samples from patients who showed strong recovery to those who did not recover between 30 and 120 days after the injury. The scientists used a method to remove the most common proteins in the blood, allowing them to find less common proteins that might be important for recovery. They then used statistical models to identify proteins linked to neurological recovery and validated some of these proteins using ELISA. The study found that differences in recovery after SCI are linked to changes in proteins related to inflammation, blood clotting, and fat metabolism. Specifically, high levels of SERPINE1 and ARHGAP35 were associated with strong recovery, while high levels of CD300a and DEFA1 were associated with a lack of recovery.

• 1
  Differences in subacute recovery after SCI (from 30 to 120 days) are associated with an enrichment in proteins involved in inflammation, coagulation, and lipid metabolism.
• 2
  High levels of SERPINE1 and ARHGAP35 are associated with strong neurological recovery.
• 3
  High levels of CD300a and DEFA1 are associated with a lack of recovery.