title: The presence of calcitonin gene-related peptide in human cerebrospinal fluid.
abstract: This study demonstrates the presence of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay, together with gel-permeation and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The median immunoreactive CGRP (i-CGRP) level from 158 CSF specimens was 8.0 pmol/l, as measured with an antiserum recognizing the whole molecule of CGRP (CC-2/1) and 12.0 pmol/l with an antiserum recognizing the C-terminal region of CGRP (CG-39). CSF samples with high protein concentration (greater than or equal to 0.6 g/l) had a median level of i-CGRP of 18.4 pmol/l when measured with antiserum CC-2/1 and 23.0 pmol/l with CG-39, while samples with 'normal' protein concentrations (less than 0.6 g/l) had much lower values, with median levels of 7.0 and 11.0 pmol/l, with the two antisera, respectively. Gel-permeation chromatography and HPLC studies revealed multiple peaks of i-CGRP, consistent with forms with different molecular weights. However, on HPLC, the major peak of i-CGRP corresponded to the elution position of the synthetic hCGRP(1-37) and was able to bind to a CGRP specific receptor preparation suggesting that it may be biologically active.
mesh_terms: D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D006801:Humans; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide