title: Impairment of electrophysiological function of astrocytes by cerebrospinal fluid from a patient with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia.
abstract: Patients with the Bing Neel type of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia often present with global neurological symptoms. In this case report, we investigated the effects of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of a such a patients (CSF-WM), who presented with seizures and psychomotor slowing, on the electrophysiological properties of cultured rat neurons and astrocytes. Membrane potential and Na+ and K+ currents of neurons were unaffected. Astrocytes, however, were significantly depolarized from -77.6 +/- 8.2 mV to -48.0 +/- 7.6 mV (38%) by CSF-WM. The depolarization was markedly reduced after CSF-WM heat inactivation or after pre-incubation of astrocytes with dexamethasone (1 microM). Astrocytes are electrophysiologically active cells, which control local ionic micro-environment. Therefore, we conclude that global neurological symptoms in the Bing Neel type of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia like generalized seizures can result from an impairment of glial cells electrophysiological functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Köller
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: von Giesen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siebler
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D008258:Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*