Inflammation Severity and miRNA-126 in Trauma

Trauma triggers a complex immune response intended to eliminate danger signals and restore physiological balance. Early post-traumatic inflammation is primarily initiated by damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). In patients with severe trauma, dysregulated inflammation increases susceptibility to infection, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), and mortality. The lungs are particularly vulnerable, and excessive inflammatory activation may lead to acute lung injury (ALI) or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), conditions characterized by increased vascular permeability, alveolar epithelial injury, surfactant dysfunction, and impaired gas exchange.

Pro-inflammatory cytokines, activated neutrophils, reactive oxygen species, and proteases contribute to endothelial and epithelial barrier disruption. Recent evidence also suggests that several microRNAs, including miR-126, may play a regulatory role in pulmonary barrier integrity through modulation of tight-junction proteins and PI3K/AKT-related pathways.

Although many components of the trauma-related inflammatory response have been described, the relationship between systemic inflammatory severity and impairment of pulmonary gas exchange remains insufficiently defined in clinical settings.

This study aims to investigate the correlation between inflammatory severity markers (C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, IL-6, reactive oxygen derivatives, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, lactate), imaging findings (flow-mediated dilation by ultrasound), clinical parameters (blood pressure, heart rate, urine output, vasoactive medication requirements), pulmonary gas-exchange measurements (arterial blood gases, PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio), and circulating miRNA-126 levels in trauma patients. The findings may help identify biomarkers that better reflect inflammatory burden and the risk of lung dysfunction following trauma.