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Updated: Jul 30, 2025
Quantitative Measurement of Intrathecally Synthesized Proteins in Mice
Published on: November 29, 2019
Higher serum β2-microglobulin is a predictive biomarker for cognitive impairment in spinal cord injury
Zhonghao Cui1, Shuai Wang2, Yanke Hao3
1Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Bone Biomechanics Engineering Laboratory of Shandong Province, Shandong Medicinal Biotechnology Center (School of Biomedical Sciences), Neck-Shoulder and Lumbocrural Pain Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China.
Objective:
Recent studies have suggested that high levels of β2-microglobulin are linked to cognitive deterioration; however, it is unclear how this connects to spinal cord injury (SCI). This study sought to determine whether there was any association between cognitive decline and serum β2-microglobulin levels in patients with SCI.
Methods:
A total of 96 patients with SCI and 56 healthy volunteers were enrolled as study participants. At the time of enrollment, specific baseline data including age, gender, triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), fasting blood glucose (FBG), smoking, and alcohol use were recorded. Each participant was assessed by a qualified physician using the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) scale. Serum β2-microglobulin levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) reagent for β2-microglobulin.
Results:
A total of 152 participants were enrolled, with 56 in the control group and 96 in the SCI group. There were no significant baseline data differences between the two groups (p > 0.05). The control group had a MoCA score of 27.4 ± 1.1 and the SCI group had a score of 24.3 ± 1.5, with the difference being significant (p < 0.05). The serum ELISA results revealed that the levels of β2-microglobulin in the SCI group were considerably higher (p < 0.05) than those in the control group (2.08 ± 0.17 g/mL compared to 1.57 ± 0.11 g/mL). The serum β2-microglobulin level was used to categorize the patients with SCI into four groups. As serum β2-microglobulin levels increased, the MoCA score reduced (p < 0.05). After adjustment of baseline data, further regression analysis showed that serum β2-microglobulin level remained an independent risk factor for post-SCI cognitive impairment.
Conclusions:
Patients with SCI had higher serum levels of β2-microglobulin, which may be a biomarker for cognitive decline following SCI.
