Gene Expression Alterations in Peripheral Blood Following Sport-Related Concussion in a Prospective Cohort of Collegiate Athletes: A Concussion Assessment, Research and Education (CARE) Consortium Study

Abstract

Background Molecular-based approaches to understanding concussion pathophysiology provide complex biological information that can advance concussion research and identify potential diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarkers of injury.

Objective The aim of this study was to identify gene expression changes in peripheral blood that are initiated following concussion and are relevant to concussion response and recovery.

Methods We analyzed whole blood transcriptomes in a large cohort of concussed and control collegiate athletes who were participating in the multicenter prospective cohort Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education (CARE) Consortium study. Blood samples were collected from collegiate athletes at preseason (baseline), within 6 h of concussion injury, and at four additional prescribed time points spanning 24 h to 6 months post-injury. RNA sequencing was performed on samples from 230 concussed, 130 contact control, and 102 non-contact control athletes. Differential gene expression and deconvolution analysis were performed at each time point relative to baseline.

Results Cytokine and immune response signaling pathways were activated immediately after concussion, but at later time points these pathways appeared to be suppressed relative to the contact control group. We also found that the proportion of neutrophils increased and natural killer cells decreased in the blood following concussion.

Conclusions Transcriptome signatures in the blood reflect the known pathophysiology of concussion and may be useful for defining the immediate biological response and the time course for recovery. In addition, the identified immune response pathways and changes in immune cell type proportions following a concussion may inform future treatment strategies.