Expression of nerve growth factor in cerebrospinal fluid of congenital hydrocephalic and normal children.
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is secreted by the choroids plexuses and has the potential to act as a signaling pathway for physiological control as it has been demonstrated to contain molecules such as interleukins, leukoterins, neuropeptides, growth transforming factor-beta (TGF-beta) and nerve growth factor (NGF), which are present at specific times during development. In this study, CSF from hydrocephalic and normal children were analysed using SDS-PAGE followed by silver staining. In order to obtain semi-quantitative estimates of the relative amounts of 26 kDa protein, an image analyzer was used to determine the intensities of the band in the respective lanes in silver-stained gels. Quantification of the silver-stained gels from repeated experiments showed that the amount of 26 kDa protein was clearly increases in the hydrocephalic CSF when compared with the normal CSF. A Western blot analysis using anti-NGF antibody as a probe confirmed the presence of NGF. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), it was shown that the level of NGF in the hydrocephalic CSF is higher than in normal CSF. It is concluded that NGF is not only a constant component of human CSF but could also be significantly involved in the pathophysiology of hydrocephalus.
Mashayekhi
F
F
Department of Biology, The University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran. umistbiology@yahoo.co.uk
Salehi
Z
Z
D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008970:Molecular Weight; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D013997:Time Factors
D020932:Nerve Growth Factor