title: Glioblastoma, transforming growth factor-beta, and Candida meningitis: a potential link.
abstract: The development of Candida meningitis in a patient following partial resection of a glioblastoma raised suspicion that transforming growth factor (TGF-beta), an immunosuppressive cytokine known to be produced by this tumor, would be elevated in his cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). By using a highly specific bioassay, the concentration of TGF-beta was found to be 609 pg/mL, which was 10-fold greater than the mean CSF TGF-beta value in control subjects with no neurologic disease. Increased CSF TGF-beta levels were also detected in patients with other central nervous system (CNS) diseases: malignancies and AIDS dementia complex. These findings suggest that TGF-beta may play an immunopathogenetic role in the CNS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415.
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thielen
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Shaskan
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000276:immunology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology; D016867:Immunocompromised Host / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D016921:Meningitis, Fungal / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta