Serum biomarkers based neurotrauma severity scale: a study in the mice model of fluid percussion injury

The study aimed to investigate the significance of serum biomarkers in the severity grading of traumatic brain injury (TBI). For this purpose, mice underwent fluid percussion injury (FPI) at three discrete severity levels, mild, moderate, and severe. The severity of trauma was verified by the qualitative and quantitative histopathology of the brain. The serum samples were analyzed for the potential changes in ubiquitin C‑terminal hydrolase‑1 (UCHL‑1), S100β, interleukin‑6 (IL‑6), corticosterone, and β‑endorphin at 24 and 72 h post injury. A multifold increase in the values of UCHL‑1 was reported at all severity extents of FPI. However, TBI severity‑dependent increase in UCHL‑1 was reported on 72 h following FPI but not at 24 h. S100β values were significantly augmented in the mild and moderate group at both the time point but not in the severe group. Serum level of IL‑6 was significantly increased in the mild injury group at 24 h but not in the moderate and severe. At 72 h, IL‑6 showed a reverse trend. β‑endorphin and corticosterone were sensitive at an early stage only. Such unique dynamics of each biomarker enable us to propose TBI severity scale in the term of biomarkers codes to predict the extent of neurotrauma. Our preclinical study presents a predictive model for further clinical validation.