The role of S100B protein as a diagnostic biomarker for brain injury

Abstract

S100B is a brain protein, produced mainly by astrocytes, that indicates neurological injury by leaking into the bloodstream, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and urine. Elevated levels of S100B in blood and CSF serve as a marker for acute neural injury such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) and stroke. The extent of S100B elevation can help predict clinical outcomes after brain injury and monitor the effectiveness of treatment. Measuring S100B levels over time, or using a trajectory analysis, can provide more reliable information about injury progression and help predict secondary injuries. In order to predict clinical outcomes after brain injury, as well as to provide a basis for appropriate treatment and indicate treatment success, it is imperative to have appropriate analytical tools at hand. In this review, we focus on the research progress of S100B as an “alert” signalling molecule in the connection of brain injuries and critically assess current diagnostic assays for S100B, including Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kits, biosensors, and point-of-care (PoC) devices.