Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a disease that affects the brain and worsens over time. CTE is associated with repetitive brain injuries (rTBI) and may lead to symptoms like memory loss and suicidality. Though strongly associated, the transition between rTBI and CTE is not sharply defined. Studies have shown that a number of American football players with repeated head injuries develop CTE as do military personnel who experience a single blast injury. This suggests that the total force of injuries accumulated by the brain over a period of time may contribute to the transition from rTBI to CTE. Using a novel concussion model to induce head injuries in fruit flies, we aim to study force-dependent accumulation of protein network changes over time. Using mass spectrometry, we found that certain proteins in the brain change in abundance as the number of brain injuries increase. These proteins were mainly associated with cells that support the brain (glia), structures that provide energy to cells (mitochondria), and proteins that maintain cell transport (microtubules). Further, we found that the abundance of some antioxidants, which protect cells from damage, decreased as the number of injuries increased. When taken together, these findings provide support for force-dependent accumulation of protein network changes over time after injury. Understanding the link between repetitive head trauma, often experienced by athletes and military personnel, and its progression to CTE, will help doctors better understand how head injuries lead to CTE and improve treatment for patients with these head injuries.

Nicole Katchur, GS: linkedin.com/nicolekatchur