Cerebrospinal fluid insulin-like growth factor-1, insulin growth factor binding protein-2 or nitric oxide are not increased in MS or ALS.
OBJECTIVE
Many studies have shown that nitric oxide (NO) and growth factors including insulin growth factors (IGFs) may be involved in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and neurodegenerative diseases. Our previous studies suggested a relationship between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) NO metabolites (nitrates and nitrites, NN(x)) and IGF-1 in patients with progressive encephalopathy, hypsarrhythmia and optic atrophy syndrome.


METHODS
We examined CSF concentrations of NN(x), IGF-1 and IGF binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) in 25 controls, 14 patients with MS and 14 patients with amyotrophic lateralis sclerosis (ALS).


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in CSF levels of NN(x), IGF-1 or IGFBP-2 between the groups. CSF IGFBP-2 concentrations correlated significantly with age in controls, which may reflect age-related changes in the blood-brain barrier function.


CONCLUSIONS
Upregulation of the production of NO and IGF-1 in the brain or spinal cord does not influence CSF levels of these molecules in MS or ALS.
Pirttilä
T
T
Department of Neurology, Kuopio University Hospital and University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland. tuula.pirttila@kuh.fi
Vanhatalo
S
S
Turpeinen
U
U
Riikonen
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018971:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2 / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000097:blood*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D012016:Reference Values; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology
D018971:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I