title: Increased levels of neurotrophins in the cerebrospinal fluid of children with Epstein-Barr virus meningoencephalitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of children with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-induced meningoencephalitis (ME) in order to establish a possible correlation with laboratory findings and neurological manifestations.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective observational clinical study was performed on 10 children with viral ME, five of them with EBV-induced ME. As controls, we used CSF samples collected from children admitted with febrile seizures. Neurotrophin levels were measured using an enzyme immunoassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly higher levels of BDNF and NGF were detected in all patients with viral ME compared to controls. Moreover, in patients with EBV-induced ME, the neurotrophin levels were higher than in those with other viral ME. Of note, in children with EBV-induced ME, we found a significant correlation between neurotrophic factor levels and the number of lymphocytes in the CSF (p<0.001). In these patients we also found a significant correlation between BDNF expression and the blood platelet count (p<0.001). Interestingly, two patients with EBV-induced ME showed a correlation between neurotrophin increase and persistent brain abnormalities, such as prolonged alteration of mental status, psychomotor agitation, and athetosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Viral ME induces an early and strong increased biosynthesis of neurotrophic factors. This neurotrophin over-expression is likely to play a key role in the mechanisms of neuronal inflammation and in the severity of brain damage, particularly in EBV-induced ME.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, A. Gemelli Hospital, Largo Gemelli, I-00168 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: achiaretti@yahoo.it.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiaretti
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, A. Gemelli Hospital, Largo Gemelli, I-00168 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Capozzi
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neurology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, A. Gemelli Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mariotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, A. Gemelli Hospital, Largo Gemelli, I-00168 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valentini
authors.affiliation: Institute of Translational Pharmacology, CNR, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Manni
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, A. Gemelli Hospital, Largo Gemelli, I-00168 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Danilo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Buonsenso
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, A. Gemelli Hospital, Largo Gemelli, I-00168 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fantacci
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, A. Gemelli Hospital, Largo Gemelli, I-00168 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferrara
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor
keywords: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Children; Epstein–Barr virus; Meningoencephalitis; Nerve growth factor