GDNF but not BDNF is increased in cerebrospinal fluid in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Cerebrospinal fluid from 15 patients with ALS and 11 controls without neurological disease were analysed for levels of the neurotrophic factors BDNF and GDNF. Analyses were performed using a sensitive sandwich immunoassay (ELISA). There was no significant difference in BDNF levels between the ALS patients and the control subjects studied. Measurable levels of GDNF were found in 12 out of 15 ALS samples. GDNF was not detected in CSF from any of the control subjects. The finding of increased CSF levels of GDNF in ALS compared to controls, together with earlier findings of increased expression of GDNF mRNA in muscle in ALS, indicates that the capacity to synthesize GDNF is enhanced in this disorder.
Grundström
E
E
Department of Neuroscience, Neurology, Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden.
Lindholm
D
D
Johansson
A
A
Blennow
K
K
Askmark
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000188:drug therapy; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D005260:Female; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012016:Reference Values; D019782:Riluzole / Q000627:therapeutic use
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; C495039:GDNF protein, human; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D019782:Riluzole