BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a common cause of morbidity and mortality after major trauma. In addition to local injury effects, TBI is associated with a systemic inflammatory response and acute lung injury (ALI), which increases mortality and worsens neurological outcomes. The exact mechanism of this ALI is not known. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small cell–derived particles involved in cell-cell communication that carry a wide variety of payloads, including proteins and microRNAs (miRNAs), which can mediate inflammation. We sought to characterize EV-derived miRNAs associated with TBI-induced ALI. METHODS: C57BL/6J mice underwent controlled cortical impact as a TBI injury model or sham procedure (anesthesia only). Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was then collected 4 hours postinjury. ALI after injury was determined via BALF protein concentration and H100:779–786. Copyright © 2026 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)
Johnston et al. (2026) studied this question.