Evaluation of СХС chemokine levels in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with brain contusions

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is among the most common forms of neurological pathology. In traumatic brain injury, axonal damage occurs not only as a result of direct cytotoxic interactions, but also due to activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which play a crucial role in development and maintenance of neuroinflammation. At the early terms after brain trauma, there occurs both activation of microglia, and formation of a pool of T cell subsets able to produce various chemokines. The aim of this study was to assess the contents of chemokines (CXCL8/MIG, CXCL9/IP-10, CXCL10/I-TAC) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with brain contusion of varying severity within the first 24 hours after hospital admission. The study included 86 patients diagnosed with “TBI: brain contusion,” who were divided into three groups based on the injury severity. A comparison group consisted of patients with brain concussion (n = 24). Obtaining CSF from healthy individuals is challenging due to absence of clinical indications for lumbar puncture. Chemokine concentrations (pg/mL) were measured by means of multiplex analysis based on xMAP technology (Luminex, USA), using Milliplex MAP test systems (Millipore, USA). The results showed a trend toward increased chemokine levels correlating with more pronounces severity of brain injury. Notably, CXCL9/MIG levels were elevated in all patients with brain injury (p < 0.05), unlike CXCL8/IL-8, which showed significant increases only in the 4^th group (severe TBI), and CXCL10/IP-10, which was significantly elevated in both the 3^rd (moderate TBI) and 4^th groups. Specifically, in the 4^th group (severe TBI), levels of CXCL8/IL-8 were increased 3.5 times, CXCL9/MIG showed a 9-fold increase, and CXCL10/IP-10 was 3 times higher than in control group (1^st group, mild TBI). To evaluate the diagnostic value of these changes, ROC analysis was performed, establishing a clinically significant chemokine thresholds that serve as highly informative markers of neural tissue damage. In conclusion, assessment of CXCL8, CXCL9, and CXCL10 levels in CSF following brain contusion provides valuable insights into their role in disease progression, i.e., recruiting T helper cells and neutrophils from peripheral blood into neural tissue and sustaining neuroinflammatory processes.