Skip to main content

REVIEW article

Front. Cell. Neurosci., 17 December 2014
Sec. Cellular Neuropathology

Diffuse axonal injury in brain trauma: insights from alterations in neurofilaments

  • 1Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, Medical Sciences Precinct, Hobart, TAS, Australia
  • 2School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) from penetrating or closed forces to the cranium can result in a range of forms of neural damage, which culminate in mortality or impart mild to significant neurological disability. In this regard, diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is a major neuronal pathophenotype of TBI and is associated with a complex set of cytoskeletal changes. The neurofilament triplet proteins are key structural cytoskeletal elements, which may also be important contributors to the tensile strength of axons. This has significant implications with respect to how axons may respond to TBI. It is not known, however, whether neurofilament compaction and the cytoskeletal changes that evolve following axonal injury represent a component of a protective mechanism following damage, or whether they serve to augment degeneration and progression to secondary axotomy. Here we review the structure and role of neurofilament proteins in normal neuronal function. We also discuss the processes that characterize DAI and the resultant alterations in neurofilaments, highlighting potential clues to a possible protective or degenerative influence of specific neurofilament alterations within injured neurons. The potential utility of neurofilament assays as biomarkers for axonal injury is also discussed. Insights into the complex alterations in neurofilaments will contribute to future efforts in developing therapeutic strategies to prevent, ameliorate or reverse neuronal degeneration in the central nervous system (CNS) following traumatic injury.

Introduction

Diffuse axonal injury (DAI), regarded as an integral process in all grades of traumatic brain injury (TBI), results typically from head rotational acceleration/deceleration, as well as the propagation of force through the brain following impact (Adams et al., 1989; Browne et al., 2011; Gupta and Przekwas, 2013). It is characterized by two distinct types of axonal pathology: swellings or varicosities along the length of axons, and the presence of large terminal bulbs (Chen et al., 1999; Smith et al., 2003; Johnson et al., 2013). Progressive, post-traumatic swelling of these structures leads to axonal disconnection (Povlishock and Christman, 1995). These swellings contain neurofilament accumulations (Okonkwo et al., 1998; Huh et al., 2002; Marmarou and Povlishock, 2006; DiLeonardi et al., 2009), but the role neurofilaments play in the development and progression of damage is yet to be elucidated. Uniaxial tension is associated with the development of varicosities in the long white matter tracts, whereas sudden shear forces have been linked with the development of axonal bulbs at gray-white matter interfaces, with relative preservation of the proximal tracts (Chen et al., 1999; Smith et al., 2000). Diffuse axonal injury can be diagnosed histologically using immunohistochemical labeling for amyloid precursor protein (APP), which accumulates rapidly in axonal swellings and bulbs post-injury, likely indicative of impaired axonal transport (Suehiro and Povlishock, 2001; Smith et al., 2003). As diagnosis of DAI in humans can only currently be made through post-mortem investigations, there is growing interest in correlating diffusion tensor imaging with clinical presentations as a novel approach to identifying severity of axonal damage (Bazarian et al., 2007), however this area remains controversial (Ilvesmäki et al., 2014).

Although “diffuse” implies that it is widespread throughout the central nervous system (CNS), DAI is better described as lesions in multiple, yet common, loci throughout the white matter tracts (Smith and Meaney, 2000; Meythaler et al., 2001; Maas et al., 2008; Johnson et al., 2013), specifically the corpus callosum and within the cerebral hemispheres and brainstem (Adams et al., 1989). Rotational injuries in swine (Smith et al., 2000) and TBI in humans (Skandsen et al., 2010; Matsukawa et al., 2011) have demonstrated that axonal lesions within the brainstem and genu of corpus callosum are negative prognostic indicators, and that the location of DAI is related to severity and the plane in which the force is applied (Smith et al., 2000). Primary axotomy is a rare event; rather, cytoskeletal abnormalities that proceed to secondary axotomy are the most common form of DAI (Wolf et al., 2001; Stone et al., 2004; Chung et al., 2005; Kelley et al., 2006; Wang et al., 2011; Greer et al., 2013).

The human brain is viscoelastic in nature (Meythaler et al., 2001; McKee et al., 2014), and is mechanically compliant under normal, gradual accelerations associated with daily living. Due to inertia, sudden acceleration over an interval of less than 50 ms will overcome the brain’s viscoelastic properties, resulting in frank shearing of the cell membrane and cytoskeletal elements, often followed by a delayed elastic return to pre-injury morphology (Smith et al., 1999; Smith and Meaney, 2000; Tang-Schomer et al., 2010). The overall extent of DAI is amplified if the application of force persists once the elastic threshold of axons is surpassed (Meythaler et al., 2001). Although it is known that the axonal cytoskeletal network is subjected to shearing and torsional forces after a TBI, questions remain as to how this process triggers subsequent chemical and molecular changes. Although DAI is a frequent pathology seen in TBI, it is heterogeneous in nature, as not all axons that are subjected to the same forces display appreciable transport deficits (Johnson et al., 2013).

Calcium Mediates an Injury Cascade in Diffuse Axonal Injury

The exact mechanisms that initiate secondary degeneration in DAI are yet to be completely characterized, although in vivo and in vitro experimental models provide some insight. For example, fluid percussion models of injury in mice have reinforced the notion that mechanical stretching and disruption of the axolemma are a primary event, with axonal damage detectable at 2 h (He et al., 2004) and 4 h post-injury (Spain et al., 2010). In vitro, such damage precedes ionic imbalance (Smith et al., 1999), which may precipitate axonal swellings, secondary axotomy and Wallerian degeneration (Johnson et al., 2013). Axonal alterations may be driven by increases in intra-axonal calcium levels. In DAI, mechanical disruption creating breaches in the axolemma has been suggested as a mechanism of extracellular calcium entry (Farkas et al., 2006; Kilinc et al., 2009). However, activation of transmembrane calcium channels that mediate the extracellular influx may also be essential. Stimulation of mechanosensitive sodium channels by axonal deformation may reverse sodium/calcium transporters and activate voltage-gated calcium channels, culminating in the influx of extracellular calcium (Figure 1; Wolf et al., 2001). Other calcium channels that have been implicated include voltage-gated L-type and T-type calcium channels (Knoferle et al., 2010). However, there is also evidence for intracellular calcium release in axonal injury (Staal et al., 2010; Stirling et al., 2014). A study of long-term primary neuron cultures subjected to an axonal stretch injury observed a biphasic calcium elevation, and indicated that both intracellular and extracellular calcium contribute to the overall increase in axoplasmic calcium (Staal et al., 2010). The link between the release of extracellular and intracellular calcium stores will be an important focus of future research, with a recent study showing that expression of stromal interaction molecules may perpetuate elevated cytosolic calcium, as its suppression has been shown to improve survival after an axonal cut injury (Hou et al., 2014).

FIGURE 1
www.frontiersin.org

Figure 1. Intracellular injury cascade in DAI. (A) In response to trauma, the axolemma either undergoes primary mechanical failure, exposing the cytosol to the extracellular space, or mechanosensitive sodium channels are activated, resulting in a flux of sodium into the axoplasm. (B) Perturbation to the ionic equilibrium results in directional change in flow of calcium, resulting in intracellular accumulation. (C) Calcium can be sequestered in the mitochondria, however this generates reactive oxygen species that may disrupt oxidative metabolism and have downstream consequences with respect to oxidative damage to an axon in crisis. Similarly, elevated calcium can activate calcium-dependent calpains (a), caspases (b) and phosphatases (c) all of which mediate cytoskeletal breakdown. (D) Cytoskeletal breakdown results in impaired axonal transport, axonal swelling and neurofilament compaction.

Several studies have investigated the effects of calcium on primary axotomy, demonstrating that calcium entry is essential for plugging the breached axon membrane and reconfiguring the cytoskeletal environment to a growth cone morphology, allowing for potential regeneration (Gitler and Spira, 1998; Kamber et al., 2009; reviewed in Bradke et al., 2012). The effects of calcium alterations in DAI are less well defined. The source and level of calcium concentration can affect the cellular response to calcium alterations, particularly as calcium is known to have a biphasic reaction in many signaling pathways with activation at low concentrations and inhibition at high concentrations (Berridge et al., 2003). In axons that do not undergo primary axotomy, high levels of cytosolic calcium could damage axons or kill neurons through destruction of cytoskeletal elements (Staal et al., 2010; Liu et al., 2014) and mitochondrial dysfunction (Wolf et al., 2001), increasing the risk of progression to secondary axotomy. The different sources of calcium may also reflect a differential response to axonal injury. For example, the influx of calcium that occurs secondary to changes in axolemmal permeability may contribute to spectrin-mediated destruction in the subaxolemmal domain (Czeiter et al., 2009), whereas the release from intracellular stores may contribute more to the destruction of the core cytoskeleton. Increased calcium also facilitates excitatory neurotransmitter release to create a positive feedback loop, exacerbating calcium influx and silencing neurons through perpetual depolarization (Barkhoudarian et al., 2011). The resultant excitotoxicity may also trigger axonal degeneration, caspase activation (Hosie et al., 2012; King et al., 2013) and distal axon swelling (King et al., 2007).

In an attempt to correct the ionic imbalance, active transport is upregulated, which in turn increases glucose metabolism (Blennow et al., 2012). This places strain on the system, since mitochondria sequester calcium to counter the cytosolic excess (Buki et al., 2000), which generates reactive oxygen species and disrupts oxidative metabolism (Figure 1; Prins et al., 2013) through unknown mechanisms. The role of this stress in the injury cascade is also unknown (Maas et al., 2008; Peng and Jou, 2010), but given the role of mitochondria in the extrinsic apoptotic pathway (Xiong et al., 2014), it is likely that mitochondrial protection would lessen the progression of vulnerable axons on to secondary axotomy.

Secondary Injury Cascade Precedes Cytoskeletal Destruction

Mitochondrial dysfunction after calcium sequestration may represent one of the final stages of the injury cascade. This is evidenced by the colocalization of cytochrome c released by stressed mitochondria, with neurofilament accumulations and axonal swellings post-injury (Staal et al., 2007) where it may augment the apoptotic cascade (Bossy-Wetzel and Green, 1999; Buki et al., 2000). Administration of cyclosporin-A, a protective agent limiting cytochrome c release from mitochondria (Suehiro and Povlishock, 2001), significantly reduces the development of axon pathology and progression of injured axons to secondary axotomy (Staal et al., 2007). Dysfunctional mitochondria may also have a role in activating caspase, which in tandem with calpain and phosphatase activation may alter cellular metabolism and cytoskeletal elements (Saatman et al., 2010; Ma et al., 2012; Smith et al., 2013; Liu et al., 2014). Cytoskeletal alterations such as neurofilament compaction and disruption, and disassembly of the microtubule array, are thought to cause defective axonal transport and swelling (Smith and Meaney, 2000), although these appear to be separate phenomena, as argued below. Indeed, varicose axonal regions are spanned by both intact and fractured microtubules, suggesting that even partial disruption of the microtubule network is sufficient to trigger swelling (Tang-Schomer et al., 2012) and contributes to an increased risk of secondary axotomy in injured axons (Smith and Meaney, 2000). Although the role of microtubules in cytoskeletal disruption has been extensively characterized, less is known concerning the role of neurofilament proteins. However to explore this, it is relevant to first consider the structure of neurofilament proteins and their post-translational modifications.

Neurofilaments are a Major Cytoskeletal Element in Axons

Neurofilaments are the key intermediate filaments (IFs) in neurons and a major component of the axonal cytoskeleton (Perrot et al., 2008; Fletcher and Mullins, 2010). Neurofilaments are widely but not ubiquitously expressed in the central and peripheral nervous systems, labeling distinct subpopulations throughout the brain and spinal cord (Paxinos et al., 2009; Sengul et al., 2013) and restricted to a subset of neurons in the neocortex (Campbell and Morrison, 1989; Kirkcaldie et al., 2002; Paulussen et al., 2011). There are five classes of IFs, which provide fundamental cellular infrastructure (Petzold, 2005). These proteins are differentially expressed between cell types and express tissue specific functions. Neurofilaments, the type IV IFs, are integral to somatic, dendritic and axonal morphology and function. Structurally, NFs are obligate heteropolymers assembled from four identified fibrous subunits (Nixon and Yuan, 2011). The major neuronal IFs in the CNS are those assembled from the NF triplet proteins: neurofilament light (NFL; 61kDa), medium (NFM; 90kDa) and heavy (NFH; 115kDa). These subunits share a highly conserved central rod domain by which they polymerize (Lariviere and Julien, 2004; Nixon and Yuan, 2011). The head and C-terminal tail domains are divergent between subunits, with the tail domains demonstrating the greatest heterogeneity, particularly in the residue length and number of phosphorylation sites (Perrot et al., 2008; Chang et al., 2009). Neurofilament medium and NFH have a greater number of residues in their tail constructs, 504 and 607 respectively, compared to NFL with only 143 (Chang et al., 2009). One of the key differentiating features between subunits is the number of Lys-Ser-Pro (KSP) repeat motifs in the tail domain of NFM and NFH (Perrot et al., 2008). KSP repeats appear to be functionally significant, as they are the primary sites of phosphorylation (Jaffe et al., 1998; Veeranna et al., 1998; Perrot et al., 2008; Yuan et al., 2012).

While NFL can form a homopolymer in vitro, NFs are obligate heteropolymers in vivo and must include NFL (Lee et al., 1993; Carter, 1998; Elder et al., 1998; Hirokawa and Takeda, 1998). Another neuronal type IV IF—α-internexin, 66kDa—is expressed developmentally prior to the appearance of mature NFs (Kaplan et al., 1990; Fliegner et al., 1994). Although α-internexin is widely expressed in the adult CNS and can coassemble with the triplet proteins to form NFs (Yuan et al., 2006; Nixon and Yuan, 2011), human and rat studies suggest that it can be expressed by a distinct population of neurons with little immunoreactivity for the NF triplet (Dickson et al., 2005).

Neurofilaments are particularly long-lived proteins with NFL half-life estimated at approximately 3 weeks (Millecamps et al., 2007). They are predominantly synthesized in the soma, with axon-directed monomers traversing the axon at 0.2–1 mm/day (Lariviere and Julien, 2004) on average, although movement is thought to be highly asynchronous and bidirectional with periods of fast transport up to 50–100 mm/day interspersed with stationary periods (Nixon, 1998; Prahlad et al., 2000; Roy et al., 2000; Liu et al., 2004; Yuan et al., 2009). This slow transport contributes to the long-term stability and integrity of the axonal NF network (Liu et al., 2004). The rate of axonal NF transport is dependent on the cytoskeletal environment, and transport is faster in axons with low NF content (Millecamps et al., 2007). At the axon terminal, NFs undergo calpain-mediated degradation, and calpain inhibition results in NF accumulations here (Roots, 1983). However, proteolytic breakdown of NFs can take place across the entire length of an axon (Millecamps et al., 2007).

The function of NFs is not fully understood. Although the importance of IFs for mechanical strength has been long recognized, the varied composition and regulation of neurofilaments suggest that they have a more complex role (reviewed in Capano et al., 2001). However, it is clear that their structural heterogeneity is likely to play an important role in dictating function.

Posttranslational Modifications of Neurofilaments

Neurofilaments undergo a number of posttranslational modifications, including phosphorylation and glycosylation. Phosphorylation has been well characterized (reviewed in Dale and Garcia, 2012) and appears to be location dependent, with high levels of phosphorylation occurring in the internodal regions of axons and lower levels of phosphorylation in perikarya (Nixon et al., 1994; Liu et al., 2004). This is also reflected in the differential concentration of NFs throughout the neuron, where phosphorylation state regulates anterograde transport (Shea and Chan, 2008). NFL N-terminal phosphorylation, regulated by protein kinase A, takes place soon after synthesis and inhibits mature NF assembly within the soma (Nakamura et al., 2000; Zheng et al., 2003). In the axon, NFM and especially NFH become highly phosphorylated at multiple KSP sites on the tail domains, reconfiguring them into side-arms that extend from the assembled filament core (Veeranna et al., 1998; Dashiell et al., 2002; Stevenson et al., 2011). Studies in rats have demonstrated that neurofilament is phosphorylated by kinases directed to serine-proline residues specifically in the KSP repeat sections of both NFM and NFH, including cyclin-dependent kinases (cdk), members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family, as well as glycogen synthase kinases (Jaffe et al., 1998; Veeranna et al., 1998). MAPK-mediated NF phosphorylation is one aspect of its diverse role in promoting neurite development and survival under physiological and stress conditions (reviewed in Neary, 2005; Roskoski, 2012). Of particular interest, activation of MAPK pathways has been observed in both in vivo and in vitro models of trauma, although the effects of this upregulation are not yet characterized (Dash et al., 2002; Mori et al., 2002; Hollis et al., 2009; Yu et al., 2010).

It is thought that phosphorylation at these sites, particularly in NFM (Jacomy et al., 1999; Rao et al., 2002) increases NF spacing due to negative charge repulsion (de Waegh et al., 1992). This is consistent with their high abundance in specific populations of axons, correlating with axonal caliber and therefore conduction velocity. NF sidearm phosphorylation promotes radial growth of the entire axon, and bridges neurofilaments to cytoskeletal elements, specifically actin and microtubules, as well as the axolemma (Elder et al., 1998; Hirokawa and Takeda, 1998; Chen et al., 2000; Chang et al., 2009; Nixon and Yuan, 2011). Phosphorylation of C-terminal domains also provides NFs with resistance to proteolysis (Schumacher et al., 1999; Huh et al., 2002; Lee et al., 2014), thus maintaining the integrity of the NF network across long axonal processes.

Neurofilament phosphorylation has also been intimately tied to myelination and axonal transport (de Waegh et al., 1992). In addition, investigations utilizing myelin associated glycoprotein (MAG)-null mice have shown significant reductions in the phosphorylation of NFM and NFH tails, which correlate with smaller axonal diameters (Yin et al., 1998). It is proposed that MAG interacts with an axonal receptor that activates cdk5 and ERK1/2, kinases that are both capable of phosphorylating NFM and NFH (Dashiell et al., 2002). This suggests that MAG-activated signaling may regulate NF phosphorylation, although this is yet to be fully elucidated. More recently, Monsma et al. (2014) have shown that myelinating cells can regulate the rate of NF transport, resulting in local accumulation and expansion of the axonal diameter (Monsma et al., 2014), a process for which phosphorylation is most likely the mediator, given its upregulation during the process of myelination and studies such as Lee et al. (2014), who demonstrated that MAPK cascades control anterograde transport of NFs. NF content does not determine the overall level of myelination: there are no significant differences in the expression of MAG between wildtype and NF knockouts (Wu et al., 2008). Although there appears to be no direct relationship between the level of myelination of an axon and its NF content, the level of myelination may nonetheless affect the level of axonal NF phosphorylation. This may explain why unmyelinated axons appear selectively vulnerable to secondary axotomy after in vitro stretch injury (Staal and Vickers, 2011), since NF phosphorylation appears to protect against enzymatic degradation (Huh et al., 2002).

Compared to phosphorylation, the role of NF glycosylation is less well studied. The head region of NFL and NFM are modified by the addition of O-linked N-acetylglucosamine moieties, while glycosylation occurs at the KSP repeats of NFH (Dong et al., 1993). These sites have a critical role in NF assembly and it is thought that glycosylation may have a role in the trafficking of NFs (Petzold, 2005).

Neurofilament Changes in Injury

NF accumulation in injury may develop out of primary mechanical failure of the NF network (Meythaler et al., 2001). However, alterations to NFs also represent an early event in the development of DAI, preceding microtubule fracturing and depolymerization (Fournier et al., 2014). Impact acceleration and fluid percussion injuries have been demonstrated to result in reductions in the interfilament spacing post injury, either due to altered phosphorylation or proteolysis of the side arms (Povlishock et al., 1997; Okonkwo et al., 1998). These changes are commonly termed NF compaction. It is hypothesized that reductions in side-arm length reduce interfilament spacing and lead to NF network collapse. Side-arm loss also facilitates the access of RM014, an antibody which recognizes the NF rod domain, and is therefore widely used to identify NF compaction (e.g., Stone et al., 2001). Given that side-arm extension relies on C-terminal phosphorylation (Nixon et al., 1994; Chang et al., 2009), it follows that pathology influencing phosphorylation state may be a driver behind NF compaction.

Pathways that may mediate side-arm shortening or loss include calcium-dependent calpain and calcineurin activation, which may be consequences of calcium accumulation post-injury. Evidence supporting calcineurin-mediated dephosphorylation as a factor in NF compaction comes from trauma studies investigating the impact of known calcineurin inhibitors. In vivo and in vitro models of injury employing tacrolimus and cyclosporin A have demonstrated reductions in axonal pathology (Okonkwo and Povlishock, 1999; Marmarou and Povlishock, 2006; Staal et al., 2007; Dileonardi et al., 2012). However, it is important to consider that cyclosporin A has an established role in protecting mitochondria following elevated intracellular calcium, (Peng and Jou, 2010), thus, there is potential for these agents to exert neuroprotection through an unidentified mechanism.

Similarly, evidence supporting calpain proteolysis of NF side-arms comes from a weight drop study demonstrating that administration of a calpain inhibitor prior to injury attenuated axonal pathology (Buki et al., 2003). Although NFs have been identified as a calpain substrate (Ma, 2013), calpains may also act to degrade sub-axolemmal anchoring proteins, specifically spectrin (Saatman et al., 2003), thus the observed reductions in axonal injury may reflect preservation of NF scaffolding rather than prevention of direct NF degradation. However, it is interesting to note that NF side-arm phosphorylation confers protection against proteolytic action (Huh et al., 2002), thus the synergistic action of calcium-activated calpains and phosphatases may clip NF side arms, culminating in disintegration of the axonal IF network (Povlishock et al., 1997; Buki et al., 2003; Ma, 2013).

Rotational head injuries in pigs have demonstrated that NF compaction in axonal varicosities contain high levels of all NF subtypes, although NFL accumulates before NFM and NFH, suggesting a temporal sequence of cytoskeletal breakdown or differential subunit transport (Chen et al., 1999). Injury-mediated NF compaction is also observed in immature rats, which have a lower NFH/NFM stoichiometry, suggesting that the loss of NFM side-arms may be the main driver behind NF compaction (DiLeonardi et al., 2009). In vitro studies using a fluid pressure pulse to induce a mild axonal stretch injury in unmyelinated axons have shown that by 48 h post injury, 51% of injured axons showed elevated SMI312 immunoreactivity for phosphorylated NFs (Chung et al., 2005). At 72 h post-injury, complete axotomy was observed at the injury site in 70% of axons, supporting the proposal that neurofilament alterations precede axotomy in DAI. This observation suggests that changes in the phosphorylation state of NFs can take place after injury (Chung et al., 2005), however the implications of this remain unclear. Defining the complete mechanisms behind NF compaction is yet to be achieved, however further investigation of side-arm phosphorylation post-injury will be essential (Saatman et al., 2009).

NF compaction has long been thought to contribute to disrupted axonal transport in the setting of injury. Microtubules are essential for axonal growth and transport (Nixon and Yuan, 2011), with fracturing or depolymerization of the transport machinery thought to contribute to this transport block. In vitro axonal stretch injury with subsequent transmission electron microscopy has demonstrated that microtubule breakage occurs in abnormally convoluted axons post-injury (Tang-Schomer et al., 2012). Interestingly, these breakage points corresponded to the varicosities that develop 3 h after injury (Tang-Schomer et al., 2012), providing evidence that microtubule disruption precedes swelling development. Measurement of this phenomenon immunohistochemically has been achieved using antibodies to the APP (Blumbergs et al., 1994), as it is a fast anterograde axonal transport product that rapidly accumulates at sites of transport disruption (Saatman et al., 2003). Accumulation of APP and organelles at these sites leads to progressive swelling, culminating in axotomy (Buki and Povlishock, 2006).

Although both NF compaction and microtubule disruption were thought to contribute to axonal transport block after trauma, a growing body of evidence suggests that NF compaction and defective transport, as measured by APP, are separate pathophenotypes of DAI. Tacrolimus, a selective inhibitor of calcineurin-activated phosphatases (Liu et al., 1991), attenuates axonal damage and progression to secondary axotomy in a subset of axons (Marmarou and Povlishock, 2006; Staal et al., 2010), suggesting that cytoskeletal damage and progression to secondary axotomy are due to dephosphorylation and protease activation caused by axolemmal perturbation (Povlishock et al., 1997; Schumacher et al., 1999; Huh et al., 2002; Marmarou and Povlishock, 2006). However, in rats subjected to a cortical controlled impact injury, this therapeutic approach was only effective for APP-labeled axons. Axons experiencing NF compaction, shown by rod-domain RM014 labeling, were not protected (Marmarou and Povlishock, 2006). Thus it appears that phosphatase activation cannot completely explain cytoskeletal disruption in injured axons undergoing NF compaction. Furthermore, DiLeonardi et al. (2009) showed in the same model that APP and RM014 labeled the same anatomical distribution at six and 24 h after injury, but labeling was never directly colocalised, suggesting that NF compaction and transport failure are discrete forms of axonal injury.

Although NF compaction and impaired axonal transport are largely distinct (DiLeonardi et al., 2009), these pathological features occur in the same tracts after injury (Creed et al., 2011). More recently, a study of the spatial distribution of NF compaction and impaired axonal transport in the corpus callosum and pyramidal tracts after TBI demonstrated that impaired transport is the prevalent injury phenotype in white matter tracts at 24 h post-injury (Kallakuri et al., 2012). In considering this, it is clear that DAI is heterogeneous, with axons experiencing a differential response that could depend on intrinsic factors or variability in force distribution and loads.

Translating Changes in Neurofilaments to a Clinical Setting

Given the role of NFs in TBI and a range of neurodegenerative conditions, these proteins may be useful plasma biomarkers for axonal injury and neuronal damage (Petzold, 2005). It has been proposed that frank axonal transection or secondary axotomy results in the release of NF proteins into the extracellular compartment and subsequently the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and eventually the bloodstream (Petzold, 2005). Since phosphorylation of NFH C-terminals is specific to axons, detection of this epitope (pNFH) has been identified as a possible blood biomarker for measuring the extent of axonal injury (Anderson et al., 2008); indeed, after human TBI it rises significantly in both CSF and serum (Siman et al., 2009). Early animal work detected a serum rise in pNFH 6 h after controlled cortical impact, peaking at 24–48 h before gradually decreasing to baseline; the rise was significantly higher in more severe injuries, and correlated with cortical loss (Anderson et al., 2008). This pattern has also been recorded following blast TBI (Gyorgy et al., 2011). As there is differential content of pNFH in the CNS, with significantly higher concentrations seen in the long white matter tracts of the spinal cord when compared to the cerebral cortex (Anderson et al., 2008), interpreting changes in its serum concentration may need to be made on a background of medical imaging.

In a population of pediatric TBI cases, patients whose initial computed tomography scan showed DAI had significantly higher serum levels of pNFH compared to those without DAI (Žurek et al., 2011). Furthermore, patients who went on to die by the 6-month follow up were retrospectively shown to have had significantly higher pNFH serum levels than survivors on days two, three and four after admission (Žurek et al., 2011). This was one of the first human studies to demonstrate that serum NFs may be prognostically useful in CNS trauma, albeit less so with respect to outcome. Similarly, measuring serum pNFH in spinal cord injury has been shown to correlate with complete and incomplete sensorimotor loss, however its sensitivity is lost at lower grades of injury (Hayakawa et al., 2012). Although these findings already have potential clinical significance, there is scope for continued research into correlating pNFH serum concentrations with clinical observations, histopathology and neurological outcome (Tisdall and Petzold, 2012; Yokobori et al., 2013). For the latter, serum elevation of S100B, glial fibrillary acidic protein and neuron-specific enolase have been shown to significantly correlate with neurological deficit, although they are not specific to axonal damage (Žurek and Fedora, 2012). More recently, pNFH has been shown to stratify lower grades of injury, with significant rises in pNFH seen up to 3 days after a mild TBI when compared to non-injured controls (Gatson et al., 2014). Although pNFH is showing great promise as both a sensitive and specific marker of axonal injury after TBI, consideration of other NF isoforms may further stratify injury severity. NFL holds a lot of potential, as it appears to accumulate more rapidly than the other isoforms after injury (Chen et al., 1999; Li et al., 2010). In Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Guillian Barré Syndrome, NFL serum levels are significantly different from healthy controls and patients without neural degeneration (Gaiottino et al., 2013). Interestingly, a recent case report involving a concussed boxer showed marked CSF elevation of NFL that did not normalize until more than 30 weeks post-concussion, emphasizing that a far longer time-course of injury and recovery is biologically detectable (Neselius et al., 2014). This is important to consider in the setting of competitive sports, as functional recovery often occurs within 1–12 weeks after the insult (Karr et al., 2014), carrying with it the all-clear to return to a potentially traumatic situation.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by project grants from the JO and JR Wicking Trust (ANZ Trustees) and the RAAF Association of Tasmania WAAAF Branch.

References

Adams, J. H., Doyle, D., Ford, I., Gennarelli, T. A., Graham, D. I., and Mclellan, D. R. (1989). Diffuse axonal injury in head injury: definition, diagnosis and grading. Histopathology 15, 49–59. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2559.1989.tb03040.x

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Anderson, K. J., Scheff, S. W., Miller, K. M., Roberts, K. N., Gilmer, L. K., Yang, C., et al. (2008). The phosphorylated axonal form of the neurofilament subunit NF-H (pNF-H) as a blood biomarker of traumatic brain injury. J. Neurotrauma 25, 1079–1085. doi: 10.1089/neu.2007.0488

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Barkhoudarian, G., Hovda, D. A., and Giza, C. C. (2011). The molecular pathophysiology of concussive brain injury. Clin. Sports Med. 30, 33–48. doi: 10.1016/j.csm.2010.09.001

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Bazarian, J. J., Zhong, J., Blyth, B., Zhu, T., Kavcic, V., and Peterson, D. (2007). Diffusion tensor imaging detects clinically important axonal damage after mild traumatic brain injury: a pilot study. J. Neurotrauma 24, 1447–1459. doi: 10.1089/neu.2007.0241

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Berridge, M. J., Bootman, M. D., and Roderick, H. L. (2003). Calcium signalling: dynamics, homeostasis and remodelling. Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 4, 517–529. doi: 10.1038/nrm1155

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Blennow, K., Hardy, J., and Zetterberg, H. (2012). The neuropathology and neurobiology of traumatic brain injury. Neuron 76, 886–899. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2012.11.021

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Blumbergs, P. C., Scott, G., Manavis, J., Wainwright, H., Simpson, D. A., and Mclean, A. J. (1994). Staining of amyloid precursor protein to study axonal damage in mild head injury. Lancet 344, 1055–1056. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(94)91712-4

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Bossy-Wetzel, E., and Green, D. R. (1999). Caspases induce cytochrome c release from mitochondria by activating cytosolic factors. J. Biol. Chem. 274, 17484–17490. doi: 10.1074/jbc.274.25.17484

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Bradke, F., Fawcett, J. W., and Spira, M. E. (2012). Assembly of a new growth cone after axotomy: the precursor to axon regeneration. Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 13, 183–193. doi: 10.1038/nrn3176

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Browne, K. D., Chen, X. H., Meaney, D. F., and Smith, D. H. (2011). Mild traumatic brain injury and diffuse axonal injury in swine. J. Neurotrauma 28, 1747–1755. doi: 10.1089/neu.2011.1913

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Buki, A., Farkas, O., Doczi, T., and Povlishock, J. T. (2003). Preinjury administration of the calpain inhibitor MDL-28170 attenuates traumatically induced axonal injury. J. Neurotrauma 20, 261–268. doi: 10.1089/089771503321532842

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Buki, A., Okonkwo, D. O., Wang, K. K., and Povlishock, J. T. (2000). Cytochrome c release and caspase activation in traumatic axonal injury. J. Neurosci. 20, 2825–2834.

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | Google Scholar

Buki, A., and Povlishock, J. T. (2006). All roads lead to disconnection?-Traumatic axonal injury revisited. Acta Neurochir. (Wien) 148, 181–193; discussion 193–184. doi: 10.1007/s00701-005-0674-4

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Campbell, M. J., and Morrison, J. H. (1989). Monoclonal antibody to neurofilament protein (SMI-32) labels a subpopulation of pyramidal neurons in the human and monkey neocortex. J. Comp. Neurol. 282, 191–205. doi: 10.1002/cne.902820204

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Capano, C. P., Pernas-Alonso, R., and Di Porzio, U. (2001). Neurofilament homeostasis and motoneurone degeneration. Bioessays 23, 24–33. doi: 10.1002/1521-1878(200101)23:1<24::aid-bies1004>3.0.co;2-h

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Carter, J. (1998). Neurofilament (NF) assembly; divergent characteristics of human and rodent NF-L subunits. J. Biol. Chem. 273, 5101–5108. doi: 10.1074/jbc.273.9.5101

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Chang, R., Kwak, Y., and Gebremichael, Y. (2009). Structural properties of neurofilament sidearms: sequence-based modelling of neurofilament architecture. J. Mol. Biol. 391, 648–660. doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2009.06.045

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Chen, X. H., Meaney, D. F., Xu, B. N., Nonaka, M., Mcintosh, T. K., Wolf, J. A., et al. (1999). Evolution of neurofilament subtype accumulation in axons following diffuse brain injury in the pig. J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol. 58, 588–596. doi: 10.1097/00005072-199906000-00003

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Chen, J., Nakata, T., Zhang, Z., and Hirokawa, N. (2000). The C-terminal tail domain of neurofilament protein-H (NF-H) forms the crossbridges and regulates neurofilament bundle formation. J. Cell Sci. 113(Pt. 21), 3861–3869.

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | Google Scholar

Chung, R. S., Staal, J. A., Mccormack, G. H., Dickson, T. C., Cozens, M. A., Chuckowree, J. A., et al. (2005). Mild axonal stretch injury in vitro induces a progressive series of neurofilament alterations ultimately leading to delayed axotomy. J. Neurotrauma 22, 1081–1091. doi: 10.1089/neu.2005.22.1081

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Creed, J. A., Dileonardi, A. M., Fox, D. P., Tessler, A. R., and Raghupathi, R. (2011). Concussive brain trauma in the mouse results in acute cognitive deficits and sustained impairment of axonal function. J. Neurotrauma 28, 547–563. doi: 10.1089/neu.2010.1729

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Czeiter, E., Buki, A., Bukovics, P., Farkas, O., Pal, J., Kovesdi, E., et al. (2009). Calpain inhibition reduces axolemmal leakage in traumatic axonal injury. Molecules 14, 5115–5123. doi: 10.3390/molecules14125115

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Dale, J. M., and Garcia, M. L. (2012). Neurofilament phosphorylation during development and disease: which came first, the phosphorylation or the accumulation? J. Amino Acids 2012:382107. doi: 10.1155/2012/382107

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Dash, P. K., Mach, S. A., and Moore, A. N. (2002). The role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase in cognitive and motor deficits following experimental traumatic brain injury. Neuroscience 114, 755–767. doi: 10.1016/s0306-4522(02)00277-4

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Dashiell, S. M., Tanner, S. L., Pant, H. C., and Quarles, R. H. (2002). Myelin-associated glycoprotein modulates expression and phosphorylation of neuronal cytoskeletal elements and their associated kinases. J. Neurochem. 81, 1263–1272. doi: 10.1046/j.1471-4159.2002.00927.x

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

de Waegh, S. M., Lee, V. M., and Brady, S. T. (1992). Local modulation of neurofilament phosphorylation, axonal caliber and slow axonal transport by myelinating Schwann cells. Cell 68, 451–463. doi: 10.1016/0092-8674(92)90183-d

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Dickson, T. C., Chuckowree, J. A., Chuah, M. I., West, A. K., and Vickers, J. C. (2005). alpha-Internexin immunoreactivity reflects variable neuronal vulnerability in Alzheimer’s disease and supports the role of the beta-amyloid plaques in inducing neuronal injury. Neurobiol. Dis. 18, 286–295. doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2004.10.001

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

DiLeonardi, A. M., Huh, J. W., and Raghupathi, R. (2009). Impaired axonal transport and neurofilament compaction occur in separate populations of injured axons following diffuse brain injury in the immature rat. Brain Res. 1263, 174–182. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2009.01.021

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Dileonardi, A. M., Huh, J. W., and Raghupathi, R. (2012). Differential effects of FK506 on structural and functional axonal deficits after diffuse brain injury in the immature rat. J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol. 71, 959–972. doi: 10.1097/nen.0b013e31826f5876

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Dong, D. L., Xu, Z. S., Chevrier, M. R., Cotter, R. J., Cleveland, D. W., and Hart, G. W. (1993). Glycosylation of mammalian neurofilaments. Localization of multiple O-linked N-acetylglucosamine moieties on neurofilament polypeptides L and M. J. Biol. Chem. 268, 16679–16687.

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | Google Scholar

Elder, G. A., Friedrich, V. L. Jr., Kang, C., Bosco, P., Gourov, A., Tu, P. H., et al. (1998). Requirement of heavy neurofilament subunit in the development of axons with large calibers. J. Cell Biol. 143, 195–205. doi: 10.1083/jcb.143.1.195

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Farkas, O., Lifshitz, J., and Povlishock, J. T. (2006). Mechanoporation induced by diffuse traumatic brain injury: an irreversible or reversible response to injury? J. Neurosci. 26, 3130–3140. doi: 10.1523/jneurosci.5119-05.2006

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Fletcher, D. A., and Mullins, R. D. (2010). Cell mechanics and the cytoskeleton. Nature 463, 485–492. doi: 10.1038/nature08908

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Fliegner, K. H., Kaplan, M. P., Wood, T. L., Pintar, J. E., and Liem, R. K. (1994). Expression of genes for the neuronal intermediate filament protein alpha-internexin coincides with the onset of neuronal differentiation in the developing rat nervous system. J. Comp. Neurol. 342, 161–173. doi: 10.1002/cne.903420202

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Fournier, A. J., Rajbhandari, L., Shrestha, S., Venkatesan, A., and Ramesh, K. T. (2014). In vitro and in situ visualization of cytoskeletal deformation under load: traumatic axonal injury. FASEB J.. doi: 10.1096/fj.14-251942. [Epub ahead of print].

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Gaiottino, J., Norgren, N., Dobson, R., Topping, J., Nissim, A., Malaspina, A., et al. (2013). Increased neurofilament light chain blood levels in neurodegenerative neurological diseases. PLoS One 8:e75091. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075091

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Gatson, J. W., Barillas, J., Hynan, L. S., Diaz-Arrastia, R., Wolf, S. E., and Minei, J. P. (2014). Detection of neurofilament-H in serum as a diagnostic tool to predict injury severity in patients who have suffered mild traumatic brain injury. J. Neurosurg. 121, 1232–1238. doi: 10.3171/2014.7.JNS132474

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Gitler, D., and Spira, M. E. (1998). Real time imaging of calcium-induced localized proteolytic activity after axotomy and its relation to growth cone formation. Neuron 20, 1123–1135. doi: 10.1016/s0896-6273(00)80494-8

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Greer, J. E., Hånell, A., McGinn, M. J., and Povlishock, J. T. (2013). Mild traumatic brain injury in the mouse induces axotomy primarily within the axon initial segment. Acta Neuropathol. 126, 59–74. doi: 10.1007/s00401-013-1119-4

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Gupta, R. K., and Przekwas, A. (2013). Mathematical models of blast-induced TBI: current status, challenges and prospects. Front. Neurol. 4:59. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2013.00059

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Gyorgy, A., Ling, G., Wingo, D., Walker, J., Tong, L., Parks, S., et al. (2011). Time-dependent changes in serum biomarker levels after blast traumatic brain injury. J. Neurotrauma 28, 1121–1126. doi: 10.1089/neu.2010.1561

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Hayakawa, K., Okazaki, R., Ishii, K., Ueno, T., Izawa, N., Tanaka, Y., et al. (2012). Phosphorylated neurofilament subunit NF-H as a biomarker for evaluating the severity of spinal cord injury patients, a pilot study. Spinal Cord 50, 493–496. doi: 10.1038/sc.2011.184

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

He, X. S., Xiang, Z., Zhou, F., Fu, L. A., and Shuang, W. (2004). Calcium overloading in traumatic axonal injury by lateral head rotation: a morphological evidence in rat model. J. Clin. Neurosci. 11, 402–407. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2004.01.001

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Hirokawa, N., and Takeda, S. (1998). Gene targeting studies begin to reveal the function of neurofilament proteins. J. Cell Biol. 143, 1–4. doi: 10.1083/jcb.143.1.1

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Hollis, E. R. 2nd, Jamshidi, P., Low, K., Blesch, A., and Tuszynski, M. H. (2009). Induction of corticospinal regeneration by lentiviral trkB-induced Erk activation. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U S A 106, 7215–7220. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0810624106

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Hosie, K. A., King, A. E., Blizzard, C. A., Vickers, J. C., and Dickson, T. C. (2012). Chronic excitotoxin-induced axon degeneration in a compartmented neuronal culture model. ASN Neuro 4:e00076. doi: 10.1042/an20110031

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Hou, P. F., Liu, Z. H., Li, N., Cheng, W. J., and Guo, S. W. (2014). Knockdown of STIM1 improves neuronal survival after traumatic neuronal injury through regulating mGluR1-dependent Ca signaling in mouse cortical neurons. Cell. Mol. Neurobiol.. doi: 10.1007/s10571-014-0123-0. [Epub ahead of print].

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Huh, J. W., Laurer, H. L., Raghupathi, R., Helfaer, M. A., and Saatman, K. E. (2002). Rapid loss and partial recovery of neurofilament immunostaining following focal brain injury in mice. Exp. Neurol. 175, 198–208. doi: 10.1006/exnr.2002.7880

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Ilvesmäki, T., Luoto, T. M., Hakulinen, U., Brander, A., Ryymin, P., Eskola, H., et al. (2014). Acute mild traumatic brain injury is not associated with white matter change on diffusion tensor imaging. Brain 137, 1876–1882. doi: 10.1093/brain/awu095

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Jacomy, H., Zhu, Q., Couillard-Després, S., Beaulieu, J. M., and Julien, J.-P. (1999). Disruption of type IV intermediate filament network in mice lacking the neurofilament medium and heavy subunits. J. Neurochem. 73, 972–984. doi: 10.1046/j.1471-4159.1999.0730972.x

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Jaffe, H., Veeranna, Shetty, K. T., and Pant, H. C. (1998). Characterization of the phosphorylation sites of human high molecular weight neurofilament protein by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry and database searching. Biochemistry 37, 3931–3940. doi: 10.1021/bi972518u

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Johnson, V. E., Stewart, W., and Smith, D. H. (2013). Axonal pathology in traumatic brain injury. Exp. Neurol. 246, 35–43. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2012.01.013

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Kallakuri, S., Li, Y., Zhou, R., Bandaru, S., Zakaria, N., Zhang, L., et al. (2012). Impaired axoplasmic transport is the dominant injury induced by an impact acceleration injury device: an analysis of traumatic axonal injury in pyramidal tract and corpus callosum of rats. Brain Res. 1452, 29–38. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2012.02.065

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Kamber, D., Erez, H., and Spira, M. E. (2009). Local calcium-dependent mechanisms determine whether a cut axonal end assembles a retarded endbulb or competent growth cone. Exp. Neurol. 219, 112–125. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2009.05.004

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Kaplan, M. P., Chin, S. S., Fliegner, K. H., and Liem, R. K. (1990). Alpha-internexin, a novel neuronal intermediate filament protein, precedes the low molecular weight neurofilament protein (NF-L) in the developing rat brain. J. Neurosci. 10, 2735–2748.

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | Google Scholar

Karr, J. E., Areshenkoff, C. N., and Garcia-Barrera, M. A. (2014). The neuropsychological outcomes of concussion: a systematic review of meta-analyses on the cognitive sequelae of mild traumatic brain injury. Neuropsychology 28, 321–336. doi: 10.1037/neu0000037

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Kelley, B. J., Farkas, O., Lifshitz, J., and Povlishock, J. T. (2006). Traumatic axonal injury in the perisomatic domain triggers ultrarapid secondary axotomy and Wallerian degeneration. Exp. Neurol. 198, 350–360. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2005.12.017

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Kilinc, D., Gallo, G., and Barbee, K. A. (2009). Mechanical membrane injury induces axonal beading through localized activation of calpain. Exp. Neurol. 219, 553–561. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2009.07.014

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

King, A. E., Dickson, T. C., Blizzard, C. A., Foster, S. S., Chung, R. S., West, A. K., et al. (2007). Excitotoxicity mediated by non-NMDA receptors causes distal axonopathy in long-term cultured spinal motor neurons. Eur. J. Neurosci. 26, 2151–2159. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2007.05845.x

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

King, A. E., Southam, K. A., Dittman, J., and Vickers, J. C. (2013). Excitotoxin-induced caspase-3 activation and microtubule disintegration in axons is inhibited by taxol. Acta Neuropathol. Commun. 1:59. doi: 10.1186/2051-5960-1-59

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Kirkcaldie, M. T., Dickson, T. C., King, C. E., Grasby, D., Riederer, B. M., and Vickers, J. C. (2002). Neurofilament triplet proteins are restricted to a subset of neurons in the rat netocortex. J. Chem. Neuroanat. 24, 163–171. doi: 10.1016/s0891-0618(02)00043-1

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Knoferle, J., Koch, J. C., Ostendorf, T., Michel, U., Planchamp, V., Vutova, P., et al. (2010). Mechanisms of acute axonal degeneration in the optic nerve in vivo. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U S A 107, 6064–6069. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0909794107

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Lariviere, R. C., and Julien, J. P. (2004). Functions of intermediate filaments in neuronal development and disease. J. Neurobiol. 58, 131–148. doi: 10.1002/neu.10270

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Lee, S., Pant, H. C., and Shea, T. B. (2014). Divergent and convergent roles for kinases and phosphatases in neurofilament dynamics. J. Cell Sci. 127, 4064–4077. doi: 10.1242/jcs.153346

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Lee, M. K., Xu, Z., Wong, P. C., and Cleveland, D. W. (1993). Neurofilaments are obligate heteropolymers in vivo. J. Cell Biol. 122, 1337–1350. doi: 10.1083/jcb.122.6.1337

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Li, J., Li, X. Y., Feng, D. F., and Pan, D. C. (2010). Biomarkers associated with diffuse traumatic axonal injury: exploring pathogenesis, early diagnosis and prognosis. J. Trauma 69, 1610–1618. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e3181f5a9ed

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Liu, J., Farmer, J. D., Lane, W. S., Friedman, J., Weissman, I., and Schrieber, S. L. (1991). Calcineurin is a common target of cyclophilin-cyclosporin A and FKBP-FK506 complexes. Cell 66, 807–815. doi: 10.1016/0092-8674(91)90124-h

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Liu, Q., Xie, F., Siedlak, S. L., Nunomura, A., Honda, K., Moreira, P. I., et al. (2004). Neurofilament proteins in neurodegenerative diseases. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 61, 3057–3075. doi: 10.1007/s00018-004-4268-8

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Liu, S., Yin, F., Zhang, J., and Qian, Y. (2014). The role of calpains in traumatic brain injury. Brain Inj. 28, 133–137. doi: 10.3109/02699052.2013.860479

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Ma, M. (2013). Role of calpains in the injury-induced dysfunction and degeneration of the mammalian axon. Neurobiol. Dis. 60, 61–79. doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2013.08.010

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Ma, M., Shofer, F. S., and Neumar, R. W. (2012). Calpastatin overexpression protects axonal transport in an in vivo model of traumatic axonal injury. J. Neurotrauma 29, 2555–2563. doi: 10.1089/neu.2012.2473

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Maas, A. I., Stocchetti, N., and Bullock, R. (2008). Moderate and severe traumatic brain injury in adults. Lancet Neurol. 7, 728–741. doi: 10.1016/s1474-4422(08)70164-9

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Marmarou, C. R., and Povlishock, J. T. (2006). Administration of the immunophilin ligand FK506 differentially attenuates neurofilament compaction and impaired axonal transport in injured axons following diffuse traumatic brain injury. Exp. Neurol. 197, 353–362. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2005.10.003

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Matsukawa, H., Shinoda, M., Fujii, M., Takahashi, O., Yamamoto, D., Murakata, A., et al. (2011). Genu of corpus callosum as a prognostic factor in diffuse axonal injury. J. Neurosurg. 115, 1019–1024. doi: 10.3171/2011.6.JNS11513

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

McKee, A. C., Daneshvar, D. H., Alvarez, V. E., and Stein, T. D. (2014). The neuropathology of sport. Acta Neuropathol. 127, 29–51. doi: 10.1007/s00401-013-1230-6

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Meythaler, J. M., Peduzzi, J. D., Eleftheriou, E., and Novack, T. A. (2001). Current concepts: diffuse axonal injury–associated traumatic brain injury. Arch. Phys. Med. Rehabil. 82, 1461–1471. doi: 10.1053/apmr.2001.25137

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Millecamps, S., Gowing, G., Corti, O., Mallet, J., and Julien, J. P. (2007). Conditional NF-L transgene expression in mice for in vivo analysis of turnover and transport rate of neurofilaments. J. Neurosci. 27, 4947–4956. doi: 10.1523/jneurosci.5299-06.2007

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Monsma, P. C., Li, Y., Fenn, J. D., Jung, P., and Brown, A. (2014). Local regulation of neurofilament transport by myelinating cells. J. Neurosci. 34, 2979–2988. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4502-13.2014

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Mori, T., Wang, X., Jung, J. C., Sumii, T., Singhal, A. B., Fini, M. E., et al. (2002). Mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibition in traumatic brain injury: in vitro and in vivo effects. J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab. 22, 444–452. doi: 10.1097/00004647-200204000-00008

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Nakamura, Y., Hashimoto, R., Kashiwagi, Y., Aimoto, S., Fukusho, E., Matsumoto, N., et al. (2000). Major phosphorylation site (Ser55) of neurofilament L by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in rat primary neuronal culture. J. Neurochem. 74, 949–959. doi: 10.1046/j.1471-4159.2000.0740949.x

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Neary, J. T. (2005). Protein kinase signaling cascades in CNS trauma. IUBMB Life 57, 711–718. doi: 10.1080/15216540500319143

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Neselius, S., Brisby, H., Granholm, F., Zetterberg, H., and Blennow, K. (2014). Monitoring concussion in a knocked-out boxer by CSF biomarker analysis. Knee Surg. Sports Traumatol. Arthrosc. doi: 10.1007/s00167-014-3066-6. [Epub ahead of print].

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Nixon, R. A. (1998). The slow axonal transport of cytoskeletal proteins. Curr. Opin. Cell Biol. 10, 87–92. doi: 10.1016/s0955-0674(98)80090-2

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Nixon, R. A., Paskevich, P. A., Sihag, R. K., and Thayer, C. Y. (1994). Phosphorylation on carboxyl terminus domains of neurofilament proteins in retinal ganglion cell neurons in vivo: influences on regional neurofilament accumulation, interneurofilament spacing and axon caliber. J. Cell Biol. 126, 1031–1046. doi: 10.1083/jcb.126.4.1031

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Nixon, R. A., and Yuan, A. E. (2011). Cytoskeleton of the Nervous System. New York: Springer.

Google Scholar

Okonkwo, D. O., Pettus, E. H., Moroi, J., and Povlishock, J. (1998). Alteration of the neurofilament sidearm and its relation to neurofilament compaction ocurring with traumatic axonal injury. Brain Res. 784, 1–6. doi: 10.1016/s0006-8993(97)01075-5

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Okonkwo, D. O., and Povlishock, J. T. (1999). An intrathecal bolus of cyclosporin A before injury preserves mitochondrial integrity and attenuates axonal disruption in traumatic brain injury. J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab. 19, 443–451. doi: 10.1097/00004647-199904000-00010

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Paulussen, M., Jacobs, S., Van Der Gucht, E., Hof, P. R., and Arckens, L. (2011). Cytoarchitecture of the mouse neocortex revealed by the low-molecular-weight neurofilament protein subunit. Brain Struct. Funct. 216, 183–199. doi: 10.1007/s00429-011-0311-3

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Paxinos, G., Watson, C. R., Carrive, P., Kirkcaldie, M. T., and Ashwell, K. W. S. (2009). Chemoarchitectonic Atlas of the Rat Brain. San Diego: Academic Press.

Google Scholar

Peng, T. I., and Jou, M. J. (2010). Oxidative stress caused by mitochondrial calcium overload. Ann. N Y Acad. Sci. 1201, 183–188. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2010.05634.x

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Perrot, R., Berges, R., Bocquet, A., and Eyer, J. (2008). Review of the multiple aspects of neurofilament functions and their possible contribution to neurodegeneration. Mol. Neurobiol. 38, 27–65. doi: 10.1007/s12035-008-8033-0

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Petzold, A. (2005). Neurofilament phosphoforms: surrogate markers for axonal injury, degeneration and loss. J. Neurol. Sci. 233, 183–198. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2005.03.015

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Povlishock, J. T., and Christman, C. W. (1995). The pathobiology of traumatically induced axonal injury in animals and humans: a review of current thoughts. J. Neurotrauma 12, 555–564. doi: 10.1089/neu.1995.12.555

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Povlishock, J. T., Marmarou, A., McIntosh, T., Trojanowski, J. Q., and Moroi, J. (1997). Impact acceleration injury in the rat: evidence for focal axolemmal change and related neurofilament sidearm alteration. J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol. 56, 347–359. doi: 10.1097/00005072-199704000-00003

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Prahlad, V., Helfand, B. T., Langford, G. M., Vale, R. D., and Goldman, R. D. (2000). Fast transport of neurofilament protein along microtubules in squid axoplasm. J. Cell Sci. 113(Pt. 22), 3939–3946.

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | Google Scholar

Prins, M., Greco, T., Alexander, D., and Giza, C. C. (2013). The pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury at a glance. Dis. Model. Mech. 6, 1307–1315. doi: 10.1242/dmm.011585

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Rao, M. V., Engle, L. J., Mohan, P. S., Yuan, A., Qiu, D., Cataldo, A., et al. (2002). Myosin Va binding to neurofilaments is essential for correct myosin Va distribution and transport and neurofilament density. J. Cell Sci. 159, 279–290. doi: 10.1083/jcb.200205062

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Roots, B. I. (1983). Neurofilament accumulation induced in synapses by leupeptin. Science 221, 971–972. doi: 10.1126/science.6192501

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Roskoski, R. Jr. (2012). ERK1/2 MAP kinases: structure, function and regulation. Pharmacol. Res. 66, 105–143. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2012.04.005

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Roy, S., Coffee, P., Smith, G., Liem, R. K., Brady, S. T., and Black, M. M. (2000). Neurofilaments are transported rapidly but intermittently in axons: implications for slow axonal transport. J. Neurosci. 20, 6849–6861.

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | Google Scholar

Saatman, K. E., Abai, B., Grosvenor, A., Vorwerk, C. K., Smith, D. H., and Meaney, D. F. (2003). Traumatic axonal injury results in biphasic calpain activation and retrograde transport impairment in mice. J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab. 23, 34–42. doi: 10.1097/00004647-200301000-00004

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Saatman, K. E., Creed, J., and Raghupathi, R. (2010). Calpain as a therapeutic target in traumatic brain injury. Neurotherapeutics 7, 31–42. doi: 10.1016/j.nurt.2009.11.002

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Saatman, K. E., Serbest, G., and Burkhardt, M. F. (2009). Axonal Damage due to Traumatic Brain Injury. New York: Springer Publishing.

Google Scholar

Schumacher, P. A., Eubanks, J. H., and Fehlings, M. G. (1999). Increased calpain I-mediated proteolysis and preferential loss of dephosphorylated NF200, following traumatic spinal cord injury. Neuroscience 91, 733–744. doi: 10.1016/s0306-4522(98)00552-1

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Sengul, G., Watson, C. R., Tanaka, I., and Paxinos, G. (2013). Atlas of the Spinal Cord: Mouse, Rat, Rhesus, Marmoset, and Human. San Diego: Academic Press.

Google Scholar

Shea, T. B., and Chan, W. K. (2008). Regulation of neurofilament dynamics by phosphorylation. Eur. J. Neurosci. 27, 1893–1901. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2008.06165.x

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Siman, R., Toraskar, N., Dang, A., McNeil, E., McGarvey, M., Plaum, J., et al. (2009). A panel of neuron-enriched proteins as markers for traumatic brain injury in humans. J. Neurotrauma 26, 1867–1877. doi: 10.1089/neu.2009.0882

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Skandsen, T., Kvistad, K. A., Solheim, O., Strand, I. H., Folvik, M., and Vik, A. (2010). Prevalence and impact of diffuse axonal injury in patients with moderate and severe head injury: a cohort study of early magnetic resonance imaging findings and 1-year outcome. J. Neurosurg. 113, 556–563. doi: 10.3171/2009.9.jns09626

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Smith, D. H., Hicks, R., and Povlishock, J. T. (2013). Therapy development for diffuse axonal injury. J. Neurotrauma 30, 307–323. doi: 10.1089/neu.2012.2825

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Smith, D. H., and Meaney, D. F. (2000). Axonal damage in traumatic brain injury. Neuroscientist 6, 483–495. doi: 10.1177/107385840000600611

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Smith, D. H., Nonaka, M., Miller, R., Leoni, M., Chen, X. H., Alsop, D., et al. (2000). Immediate coma following inertial brain injury dependent on axonal damage in the brainstem. J. Neurosurg. 93, 315–322. doi: 10.3171/jns.2000.93.2.0315

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Smith, D. H., Uryu, K., Saatman, K. E., Trojanowski, J. Q., and Mcintosh, T. K. (2003). Protein accumulation in traumatic brain injury. Neuromolecular Med. 4, 59–72. doi: 10.1385/nmm:4:1-2:59

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Smith, D. H., Wolf, J. A., Lusardi, T. A., Lee, V. M., and Meaney, D. F. (1999). High tolerance and delayed elastic response of cultured axons to dynamic stretch injury. J. Neurosci. 19, 4263–4269.

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | Google Scholar

Spain, A., Daumas, S., Lifshitz, J., Rhodes, J., Andrews, P. J., Horsburgh, K., et al. (2010). Mild fluid percussion injury in mice produces evolving selective axonal pathology and cognitive deficits relevant to human brain injury. J. Neurotrauma 27, 1429–1438. doi: 10.1089/neu.2010.1288

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Staal, J. A., Dickson, T. C., Chung, R. S., and Vickers, J. C. (2007). Cyclosporin-A treatment attenuates delayed cytoskeletal alterations and secondary axotomy following mild axonal stretch injury. Dev. Neurobiol. 67, 1831–1842. doi: 10.1002/dneu.20552

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Staal, J. A., Dickson, T. C., Gasperini, R., Liu, Y., Foa, L., and Vickers, J. C. (2010). Initial calcium release from intracellular stores followed by calcium dysregulation is linked to secondary axotomy following transient axonal stretch injury. J. Neurochem. 112, 1147–1155. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2009.06531.x

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Staal, J. A., and Vickers, J. C. (2011). Selective vulnerability of non-myelinated axons to stretch injury in an in vitro co-culture system. J. Neurotrauma 28, 841–847. doi: 10.1089/neu.2010.1658

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Stevenson, W., Chang, R., and Gebremichael, Y. (2011). Phosphorylation-mediated conformational changes in the mouse neurofilament architecture: insight from a neurofilament brush model. J. Mol. Biol. 405, 1101–1118. doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2010.11.022

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Stirling, D. P., Cummins, K., Wayne Chen, S. R., and Stys, P. (2014). Axoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) release causes secondary degeneration of spinal axons. Ann. Neurol. 75, 220–229. doi: 10.1002/ana.24099

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Stone, J. R., Okonkwo, D. O., Dialo, A. O., Rubin, D. G., Mutlu, L. K., Povlishock, J. T., et al. (2004). Impaired axonal transport and altered axolemmal permeability occur in distinct populations of damaged axons following traumatic brain injury. Exp. Neurol. 190, 59–69. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2004.05.022

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Stone, J. R., Singleton, R. H., and Povlishock, J. T. (2001). Intra-axonal neurofilament compaction does not evoke local axonal swelling in all traumatically injured axons. Exp. Neurol. 172, 320–331. doi: 10.1006/exnr.2001.7818

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Suehiro, E., and Povlishock, J. T. (2001). Exacerbation of traumatically induced axonal injury by rapid posthypothermic rewarming and attenuation of axonal change by cyclosporin A. J. Neurosurg. 94, 493–498. doi: 10.3171/jns.2001.94.3.0493

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Tang-Schomer, M. D., Johnson, V. E., Baas, P. W., Stewart, W., and Smith, D. H. (2012). Partial interruption of axonal transport due to microtubule breakage accounts for the formation of periodic varicosities after traumatic axonal injury. Exp. Neurol. 233, 364–372. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2011.10.030

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Tang-Schomer, M. D., Patel, A. R., Baas, P. W., and Smith, D. H. (2010). Mechanical breaking of microtubules in axons during dynamic stretch injury underlies delayed elasticity, microtubule disassembly and axon degeneration. FASEB J. 24, 1401–1410. doi: 10.1096/fj.09-142844

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Tisdall, M., and Petzold, A. (2012). Comment on “Chronic traumatic encephalopathy in blast-exposed military veterans and a blast neurotrauma mouse model”. Sci. Transl. Med. 4:157le158. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3004403

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Veeranna, Amin, N. D., Ahn, N. G., Jaffe, H., Winters, C. A., Grant, P., et al. (1998). Mitogen-activated protein kinases (Erk1,2) phosphorylate Lys-Ser-Pro (KSP) repeats in neurofilament proteins NF-H and NF-M. J. Neurosci. 18, 4008–4021.

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | Google Scholar

Wang, J., Hamm, R. J., and Povlishock, J. T. (2011). Traumatic axonal injury in the optic nerve: evidence for axonal swelling, disconnection, dieback and reorganization. J. Neurotrauma 28, 1185–1198. doi: 10.1089/neu.2011.1756

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Wolf, J. A., Stys, P. K., Lusardi, T., Meaney, D., and Smith, D. H. (2001). Traumatic axonal injury induces calcium influx modulated by tetrodotoxin-sensitive sodium channels. J. Neurosci. 21, 1923–1930.

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | Google Scholar

Wu, Y. J., Tang, Y. F., Xiao, Z. C., Bao, Z. M., and He, B. P. (2008). NG2 cells response to axonal alteration in the spinal cord white matter in mice with genetic disruption of neurofilament light subunit expression. Mol. Neurodegener. 3:18. doi: 10.1186/1750-1326-3-18

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Xiong, S., Mu, T., Wang, G., and Jiang, X. (2014). Mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in mammals. Protein Cell 5, 737–749. doi: 10.1007/s13238-014-0089-1

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Yin, X. H., Crawford, T. O., Griffin, J. W., Tu, P. H., Lee, V. M. Y., Li, C. M., et al. (1998). Myelin-associated glycoprotein is a myelin signal that modulates the caliber of myelinated axons. J. Neurosci. 18, 1953–1962.

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | Google Scholar

Yokobori, S., Hosein, K., Burks, S., Sharma, I., Gajavelli, S., and Bullock, R. (2013). Biomarkers for the clinical differential diagnosis in traumatic brain injury-a systematic review. CNS Neurosci. Ther. 19, 556–565. doi: 10.1111/cns.12127

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Yu, C. G., Yezierski, R. P., Joshi, A., Raza, K., Li, Y., and Geddes, J. W. (2010). Involvement of ERK2 in traumatic spinal cord injury. J. Neurochem. 113, 131–142. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2010.06579.x

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Yuan, A., Rao, M. V., Sasaki, T., Chen, Y., Kumar, A., Veeranna, et al. (2006). Alpha-internexin is structurally and functionally associated with the neurofilament triplet proteins in the mature CNS. J. Neurosci. 26, 10006–10019. doi: 10.1523/jneurosci.2580-06.2006

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Yuan, A., Rao, M. V., Veeranna, and Nixon, R. A. (2012). Neurofilaments at a glance. J. Cell Sci. 125(Pt. 14), 3257–3263. doi: 10.1242/jcs.104729

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Yuan, A., Sasaki, T., Rao, M. V., Kumar, A., Kanumuri, V., Dunlop, D. S., et al. (2009). Neurofilaments form a highly stable stationary cytoskeleton after reaching a critical level in axons. J. Neurosci. 29, 11316–11329. doi: 10.1523/jneurosci.1942-09.2009

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Zheng, Y. L., Li, B. S., and Veeranna, Pant, H. C. (2003). Phosphorylation of the head domain of neurofilament protein (NF-M): a factor regulating topographic phosphorylation of NF-M tail domain KSP sites in neurons. J. Biol. Chem. 278, 24026–24032. doi: 10.1074/jbc.m303079200

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Žurek, J., Bartlová, L., and Fedora, M. (2011). Hyperphosphorylated neurofilament NF-H as a predictor of mortality after brain injury in children. Brain Inj. 25, 221–226. doi: 10.3109/02699052.2010.541895

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Žurek, J., and Fedora, M. (2012). The usefulness of S100B, NSE, GFAP, NF-H, secretagogin and Hsp70 as a predictive biomarker of outcome in children with traumatic brain injury. Acta Neurochir. (Wien) 154, 93–103; discussion 103. doi: 10.1007/s00701-011-1175-2

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Keywords: traumatic brain injury, diffuse axonal injury, neurofilament, NFL, diffuse brain trauma, traumatic axonal injury, biomarkers, neurofilament compaction

Citation: Siedler DG, Chuah MI, Kirkcaldie MTK, Vickers JC and King AE (2014) Diffuse axonal injury in brain trauma: insights from alterations in neurofilaments. Front. Cell. Neurosci. 8:429. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2014.00429

Received: 11 September 2014; Accepted: 29 November 2014;
Published online: 17 December 2014.

Edited by:

Francesco Moccia, University of Pavia, Italy

Reviewed by:

Francesco Moccia, University of Pavia, Italy
Carlo Di Cristo, University of Sannio, Italy

Copyright © 2014 Siedler, Chuah, Kirkcaldie, Vickers and King. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution and reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

*Correspondence: Anna E. King, Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, Medical Sciences Precinct, Building 1, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia e-mail: kingae@utas.edu.au

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.