Citation

Cernak I, Noble-Haeusslein LJ. J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab. 2010; 30(2): 255-266.

Affiliation

National Security Technology Department, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1038/jcbfm.2009.203

PMID

19809467

PMCID

PMC2855235

Abstract

This review considers the pathobiology of non-impact blast-induced neurotrauma (BINT). The pathobiology of traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been historically studied in experimental models mimicking features seen in the civilian population. These brain injuries are characterized by primary damage to both gray and white matter and subsequent evolution of secondary pathogenic events at the cellular, biochemical, and molecular levels, which collectively mediate widespread neurodegeneration. An emerging field of research addresses brain injuries related to the military, in particular blast-induced brain injuries. What is clear from the effort to date is that the pathobiology of military TBIs, particularly BINT, has characteristics not seen in other types of brain injury, despite similar secondary injury cascades. The pathobiology of primary BINT is extremely complex. It comprises systemic, local, and cerebral responses interacting and often occurring in parallel. Activation of the autonomous nervous system, sudden pressure-increase in vital organs such as lungs and liver, and activation of neuroendocrine-immune system are among the most important mechanisms significantly contributing to molecular changes and cascading injury mechanisms in the brain.Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism advance online publication, 7 October 2009; doi:10.1038/jcbfm.2009.203.

Language: en