Pathogenic p-tau levels in CSF reflects severity of traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the main cause of death and disability among young people. Following TBI, immune system activation and cytokine release induce kinase activity and hyperphosphorylation of tau protein, a structural molecule in axonal microtubules. The configuration of phosphorylated tau at Th231 is extremely neurotoxic and is having a prion nature, spreads to brain areas as well as CSF.