Selenium-Binding Protein 1 (SELENBP1) as Biomarker for Adverse Clinical Outcome After Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

Julian Seelig; Raban Arved Heller; Patrick Haubruck; Qian Sun; Jochen Georg Klingenberg; Julian Hackler; Helena Lucia Crowell; Volker Daniel; Arash Moghaddam; Lutz Schomburg; Bahram Biglari

doi:10.3389/fnins.2021.680240

Selenium-Binding Protein 1 (SELENBP1) as Biomarker for Adverse Clinical Outcome After Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

Front Neurosci. 2021 May 28:15:680240. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2021.680240. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Julian Seelig¹, Raban Arved Heller^{1

2

3}, Patrick Haubruck^{2

4}, Qian Sun¹, Jochen Georg Klingenberg¹, Julian Hackler¹, Helena Lucia Crowell^{5

6}, Volker Daniel⁷, Arash Moghaddam⁸, Lutz Schomburg¹, Bahram Biglari⁹

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Experimental Endocrinology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.
² Heidelberg Trauma Research Group, Department of Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, Centre for Orthopaedics, Trauma Surgery and Spinal Cord Injury, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
³ Department of General Practice and Health Services Research, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
⁴ Raymond Purves Bone and Joint Research Laboratories, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Institute of Bone and Joint Research, University of Sydney, St Leonards, NSW, Australia.
⁵ SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
⁶ Systems Biology Ph.D. Program, Life Science Zurich Graduate School, ETH Zürich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
⁷ Transplantation Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
⁸ Aschaffenburg Trauma and Orthopaedic Research Group, Centre for Orthopaedics, Trauma Surgery and Sports Medicine, Hospital Aschaffenburg-Alzenau, Aschaffenburg, Germany.
⁹ Department of Paraplegiology, BG Trauma Centre Ludwigshafen, Ludwigshafen, Germany.

Abstract

Introduction: Traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) presents a diagnostic challenge as it may have dramatic consequences for the affected patient. Additional biomarkers are needed for improved care and personalized therapy. Objective: Serum selenium binding protein 1 (SELENBP1) has been detected in myocardial infarction, reflecting hypoxic tissue damage and recovery odds. As SELENBP1 is usually not detected in the serum of healthy subjects, we tested the hypothesis that it may become detectable in TSCI and indicate tissue damage and regeneration odds. Methods: In this prospective observational study, patients with comparable injuries were allocated to three groups; vertebral body fractures without neurological impairment (control "C"), TSCI without remission ("G0"), and TSCI with signs of remission ("G1"). Consecutive serum samples were available from different time points and analyzed for SELENBP1 by sandwich immunoassay, for trace elements by X-ray fluorescence and for cytokines by multiplex immunoassays. Results: Serum SELENBP1 was elevated at admission in relation to the degree of neurological impairment [graded as A, B, C, or D according to the American Spinal Injury Association (AISA) impairment scale (AIS)]. Patients with the most severe neurological impairment (classified as AIS A) exhibited the highest SELENBP1 concentrations (p = 0.011). During the first 3 days, SELENBP1 levels differed between G0 and G1 (p = 0.019), and dynamics of SELENBP1 correlated to monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, chemokine ligand 3 and zinc concentrations. Conclusion: Circulating SELENBP1 concentrations are related to the degree of neurological impairment in TSCI and provide remission odds information. The tight correlation of SELENBP1 with CCL2 levels provides a novel link between Se metabolism and immune cell activation, with potential relevance for neurological damage and regeneration processes, respectively.

Keywords: diagnostic biomarker; in vitro diagnostic test; neuroregeneration; neurotrauma; trace element.