Autoantibodies to the α7 Subunit of the Neuronal Acetylcholine Receptor in Craniocerebral Trauma in Children

The aim of the present work was to seek new diagnostically significant biochemical markers for brain damage. Serum levels of autoantibodies (AAb) to different regions of the α7 subunit of the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) were measured in children after craniocerebral trauma (CCT) of different severities. More severe CCT was found to be accompanied by more marked increases in blood levels of AAb to fragments of the α7 AChR subunit during the first week after trauma. These data provide evidence that the α7 subunit of AChR and AAb to them are involved in the pathogenesis of traumatic brain damage and may play an important role during the post-trauma period.