Usefulness of S100B Protein in Neurological Disorders

In recent years, there has been an increased interest in the clinical use of brain markers. The S100B is a calcium-binding peptide and is used as a parameter of glial activation and/or death in many disorders of the central nervous system (CNS). It plays important roles in normal CNS development and recovery after injury. Although S100B is mainly found in astroglial and Schwann cells, it also has extracerebral sources. S100B is a useful neurobiochemical marker of brain damage such as in circulatory arrest, stroke and traumatic brain injury. S100B is also associated with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease or other chronic neurological diseases. Moreover, S100B may have a potential in predicting the efficiency of treatment and prognosis. In this review, an updated overview of the role of S100B in human neurological disorders is presented.