A prospective observational study on utility of serum mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor as a promising prognostic biomarker of severe traumatic brain injury in humans.

Background: Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) is released under endoplasmic reticulum stress, thereby exerting neuroprotective effects. We determined whether serum MANF may be a prognostic biomarker of human severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI).

Methods: Serum MANF concentrations of 137 sTBI patients and 137 controls were quantified in this prospective cohort study.