Proteins as biomarkers of carbon monoxide neurotoxicity.

Context: Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is the most common form of accidental lethal poisoning and is associated with a risk of brain damage in survivors.

Objective: The goal of this study was to examine whether Tau protein or S100B protein may be used as a biomarker for acute brain dysfunction.

Materials And Methods: The determination of Tau and S100B proteins was performed in serum samples collected from 27 CO-poisoned patients and 12 healthy volunteers.

Results: The level of Tau protein in the serum of patients (444 ± 227 ng L(-1)) differed significantly compared with those in the healthy controls (240 ± 61 ng L(-1)) and correlated with the level of carboxyhemoglobin. A higher concentration of Tau protein was found in patients who had lost consciousness during CO exposure. The concentration of S100B in the serum of CO-poisoned subjects (0.08 ± 0.03 µg L(-1)) was not statistically different from values obtained for the controls (0.07 ± 0.02 µg L(-1)).

Conclusion: CO poisoning appears to be associated with an elevated level of Tau and S100B proteins in the serum of patients who had suffered a loss of consciousness. The study has shown that Tau protein is a more sensitive biomarker than S100B protein for the earlier stage of neurotoxic effects of CO intoxication.