title: 14-3-3 protein detection in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with influenza-associated encephalopathy.
abstract: Influenza-associated encephalopathy is characterized by high fever, convulsions, and loss of consciousness associated with influenza infection in children, but its pathophysiology remains to be clarified. We examined 14-3-3 proteins, which are acidic brain proteins, in cerebrospinal fluid by immunoblotting in four patients with influenza-associated encephalopathy, four patients with influenza without encephalopathy, and four patients with another encephalopathy. Interestingly, we detected 14-3-3 proteins in all four patients with influenza-associated encephalopathy (100%) but not in any of the other patients. 14-3-3 isoforms, including beta, gamma, epsilon, xi, and theta, were found in the cerebrospinal fluid of the patients with influenza-associated encephalopathy, suggesting extensive damage to the brain. We conclude that 14-3-3 proteins in cerebrospinal fluid are highly detectable in influenza-associated encephalopathy and thus can be used as a rapid diagnostic marker.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, and the Division of Neurology, Chiba Children's Hospital, Japan. kfujii@faculty.chiba-u.jp
authors.forename: Katsunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Yuzo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanabe
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uchikawa
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kubota
authors.forename: Jun-ichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Takanashi
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kohno
mesh_terms: D048948:14-3-3 Proteins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus; D009981:Influenza B virus; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D048948:14-3-3 Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers