Homer1a protein expression and its relationship with neuronal deficit and neuronal apoptosis in craniocerebral trauma patients

Objective To study the Homer1a protein expression and its relationship with neurological deficit and neuronal apoptosis in craniocerebral trauma patients. Methods Forty-two craniocerebral trauma patients, admitted to our hospital from May 2012 to March 2016, were selected as craniocerebral trauma group; 50 healthy subjects accepted physical examination at the same period in our hospital were selected as normal control group (n=50). Immediately after admission, serum contents of Homer1a protein and nerve function damage indices (neurospecific estrogenase [NSE]), fatty acid binding protein [FABP], insulin-like growth factor [IGF-1], and S100B protein) were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Serum apoptotic indices (soluble apoptotic factor [(sFas)], sFas ligand [sFasL], and cell lymphoma-2 [Bcl-2]) were detected by radioimmunoassay. Results Immediately after admission, serum content of Homer1a protein content in craniocerebral trauma group ([113.27±12.19] pg/mL) was significantly higher than that in normal control group ([53.93±4.06] pg/mL, P<0.05); the median serum Homer1a protein level was 115.302 pg/mL, and according to this level, the patients from the craniocerebral trauma group were further divided into high Homer1a group and low Homer1a group. Serum NSE, FABP, S100B, sFas and sFasL levels in the high Homer1a group, low Homer1a group and normal control group were decreased in sequence, and IGF-1 and Bcl-2 levels increased in sequence, with significant differences (P<0.05). Conclusion Expression of Homer1a protein is increased in patients with traumatic brain injury, and its content is directly related to nerve injury and neuron apoptosis. Key words: Craniocerebral trauma; Homer1a protein; Neuronal deficit; Neuronal apoptosis