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Peripheral microRNAs as biomarkers of concussive and sub‐concussive head impacts in professional soccer players
Author(s) -
Matyasova Katarina,
Csicsatkova Nikoleta,
Hanes Jozef,
Filipcik Peter,
Cente Martin
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.2021.35.s1.04983
Subject(s) - head (geology) , microrna , peripheral , medicine , physical medicine and rehabilitation , biology , genetics , gene , paleontology
Repetitive concussive head impacts and their harmful consequences described in the brains of contact sports players represent a major risk factor for development of chronic traumatic encephalopathy. However, the molecular events together with peripheral markers of repetitive head impacts were not fully elucidated to date. As soccer is one of the contact sports with a high risk of head injuries, this study focused on the altered expression level of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) in soccer players following accidental head impacts and repetitive heading the ball, accounting for the effects of physical activity alone. Furthermore, the study aimed to define the associations between detected miRNAs and signaling pathways. The current study was based on a subset of blood samples available from a prospective cohort study by Straume‐Næsheim et al., 2008 and 2009 assessing the effects of head impacts in senior elite soccer on neuropsychological tests and serum protein biomarkers (PMID: 18824996, 19349829). Blood samples of professional soccer players were drawn at the rest and then repeatedly after three conditions: (1) accidental head impacts in a match, (2) repetitive heading during training, and (3) high‐intensity exercise. Altered levels of circulating miRNAs were obtained by real‐time PCR. Using bioinformatic approaches, we identified the predicted miRNA gene targets and their roles in biological pathways. We found six miRNAs implicated in the repetitive heading, unaffected by high‐intensity exercise, and eight miRNAs in the accidental head impacts. MiRNA gene targets were subsequently linked to overlapping, as well as unique signaling pathways for each of the studied conditions. These findings suggest that concussive and sub‐concussive head impacts in soccer cause specific alterations in circulating microRNAs that are unaffected by high‐intensity exercise.