Reactive astrocytes are known to play a vital role in the overall response of the brain during a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Modern studies have speculated the existence of cavitation in the skull during a TBI, which has alarming potential to cause detrimental damages. Previous studies have confirmed the upregulation of various harmful genes in neurodegenerative diseases. Studying the longitudinal presence of these harmful genes in response to cavitation allows for optimized understanding and treatment methods in cavitation exposure. We seek to characterize the longitudinal genetic expression levels that astrocytes exhibit after exposure to cavitation and further elucidate the startling presence of cranial cavitation. Astrocytic expression levels of various common genes that have been documented in TBI research are our target of interest, like, TNFα, IL-1β, and NOS1. Results summarize specific gene trends from 1-48 hours after cavitation. Our data concludes that maximum expression is not consistently exhibited immediately after cavitation exposure, and most genes have individualized genetic trends. IL-1β shows a decreasing expression over 48 hours, and TNFα shows upregulation until the 6 hour time point but then begins to decrease in expression. The upregulation of NOS1 has been documented in neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. This study has shown a consistent upregulation in NOS1 expression from 0-48 hours. These results postulate a possible linkage between cavitation damage and neurodegenerative diseases. This analysis also provides novelty in optimizing treatments for astrocytic function post-TBI and legitimizing the concern of cranial cavitation existence. These results add motivation for future studies of cavitation elimination or minimization via advanced helmet and airbag engineering.

中文翻译：

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神经胶质细胞如何对超声诱导的空化作出反应？

已知反应性星形胶质细胞在颅脑外伤（TBI）期间对大脑的整体反应起着至关重要的作用。现代研究推测，在TBI期间颅骨中存在空化现象，具有引起有害损害的惊人潜力。先前的研究已证实神经退行性疾病中各种有害基因的上调。研究这些有害基因响应空化的纵向存在，可以优化对空化暴露的理解和治疗方法。我们试图表征星形细胞暴露于空化后表现出的纵向遗传表达水平，并进一步阐明颅内空化的惊人存在。TBI研究中已证明各种常见基因的星形胶质表达水平是我们感兴趣的目标，例如，TNFα，IL-1β和NOS1。结果总结了空化后1-48小时的特定基因趋势。我们的数据得出的结论是，空化暴露后并不能始终如一地展现出最大的表达，而且大多数基因具有个体化的遗传趋势。IL-1β在48小时内表达下降，而TNFα在6小时时间点前表达上调，但随后开始下降。在神经退行性疾病，例如阿尔茨海默氏病和帕金森氏病中，已经证明了NOS1的上调。这项研究显示，从0到48小时，NOS1表达持续稳定上调。这些结果推测空化损伤和神经退行性疾病之间可能存在联系。该分析还为优化TBI后星形胶质细胞功能的治疗方法以及将颅内空化的存在合法化提供了新颖性。这些结果为通过高级头盔和安全气囊工程技术消除或最小化气穴现象的未来研究增添了动力。