Alteration of cystatin C in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with sciatica revealed by a proteomical approach.
OBJECTIVE
To better understand the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying sciatica induced by lumbar intervertebral disk herniation and to ascertain the protein that presents with the most observable changes in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with sciatica.


METHODS
We conducted the study in the Key Laboratory of Shanghai 6th People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, Peoples Republic of China, during the period June 2004 to March 2005. In 2 separate experiments, we carried out the study involving the CSF of sciatica patients (the case group) and the CSF of otherwise, healthy volunteers (the control group). We utilized a proteomical analysis to compare the samples of 10 patients with sciatica with 10 volunteers in the control group. We individually separated each of the groups' CSF by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis. We analyzed the harvested gel images with PD Quest 2D-gel software (Bio-Rad) to ascertain the differential proteins between the 2 groups. We based the enzyme linked immuno- absorbent assay (ELISA) experiment, which followed, on the results of the first experiment.


RESULTS
We found 15 of the protein spots in the CSF differed appreciably in varying degrees between the 2 groups, and identification made by LC-MS/MS revealed that the most significant disparity was with cystatin C. The result of ELISA experiment confirmed a considerable decrease in the level of cystatin C (p<0.01) in the patients with sciatica.


CONCLUSIONS
In the CSF of patients with sciatica, the volume of cystatin C increased markedly indicating that it may play an important role in the pathophysiological processes of sciatica.
Liu
Xudong
X
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai No.6 People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University, Yishan Road, Shanghai, Peoples Republic of China.
Zeng
Bingfang
B
Xu
Jianguang
J
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D055316:Cystatin C; D015891:Cystatins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012585:Sciatica / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013129:Spinal Puncture / Q000379:methods
D015415:Biomarkers; C525030:CST3 protein, human; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins; D055316:Cystatin C; D015891:Cystatins