Neural progenitors populate the cerebrospinal fluid of preterm patients with hydrocephalus.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of preterm patients with hydrocephalus for neural progenitors.


METHODS
This report describes a prospective study of CSF obtained from preterm infants, either with progressive posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PPHH) or without known intercranial pathology. Cells recovered by centrifugation were analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction or by immunocytometry. Alternatively, cells were cultured by using methods permissive to neural progenitor growth and analyzed by immunocytochemistry and Western blotting.


RESULTS
Human CSF cells were obtained from 20 preterm infants at approximately 27 weeks estimated gestational age (15 infants with PPHH, 5 control infants). The number of these cells removed over time from patients with PPHH were substantial, based on our calculations. Cells recovered from patients with PPHH transcribe markers for neural progenitors, all the mature cells types of the central nervous system, and a large battery of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan genes, including the entire aggrecan/lectican family. These cells proliferated in culture, and precursor markers were detected by Western blotting, immunocytochemistry, and cytometry. Cells could not be cultured from control patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Neural progenitor accumulation in CSF could confound the clinical interpretation of CSF cell counts in hydrocephalus and may play as yet undetermined roles in the biology of injury after hydrocephalus. These findings suggest the potential for neural stem cell propagation from CSF.
Krueger
Richard C
RC
Ahmanson Pediactric Center, Division of Neonatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA. richard.krueger@cshs.org
Wu
Hao
H
Zandian
Mandana
M
Danielpour
Moise
M
Kabos
Peter
P
Yu
John S
JS
Sun
Yi E
YE
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans / Q000235:genetics; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D009420:Nervous System / Q000196:embryology*; D064231:Nestin; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; C577484:NES protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D064231:Nestin