An Initial miRNA Profile of Persons With Persisting Neurobehavioral Impairments and States of Disordered Consciousness After Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract

Objective: To examine the merits of using microRNAs (miRNAs) as biomarkers of disorders of consciousness (DoC) due to traumatic brain injury (TBI). Settings: Acute and subacute beds. Participants: Patients remaining in vegetative and minimally conscious states (VS, MCS), an average of 1.5 years after TBI, and enrolled in a randomized clinical trial (n = 6). Persons without a diagnosed central nervous system disorder, neurotypical controls (n = 5). Design: Comparison of whole blood miRNA profiles between patients and age/gender-matched controls. For patients, correlational analyses between miRNA profiles and measures of neurobehavioral function. Main Measures: Baseline measures of whole blood miRNAs isolated from the cellular and fluid components of blood and measured using miRNA-seq and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Baseline neurobehavioral measures derived from 7 tests. Results: For patients, relative to controls, 48 miRNA were significantly (P