Spinal fluid proteins signal Lou Gehrig's disease

January 29, 2009

High levels of certain proteins in the spinal fluid could signal the onset of Lou Gehrig's disease, according to researchers. The discovery of these biomarkers may lead to diagnostic kits for early diagnosis, accurately measuring the progression of the disease and monitoring the effects of treatment.

Lou Gehrig's disease -- or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) -- is caused by the degeneration of nerve cells controlling the voluntary movement of muscles. However, it is hard to diagnose because symptoms such as muscle weakness are common in other ailments and currently, there is no diagnostic test for the disease.

"The disease has to progress far enough so that the patient begins to experience significant muscle weakness, so that a physician can identify the problem," said James Connor, distinguished professor and vice-chair of neurosurgery, Penn State Hershey. "If we had a biomarker we could start treatments earlier and perhaps save more nerve cells and slow the disease."

The problem is compounded by the speed at which the disease progresses. In some patients the disease can run its course in just a couple of years, while in others it can take seven to ten years.

To find an early warning signal for the onset of Lou Gehrig's disease, Connor and his colleagues, Zachary Simmons and Ryan Mitchell at the Hershey Medical Center, focused their attention on proteins related to inflammation in the spinal cord. Studies show that the progression of the disease involves excessive inflammation of nerve cells. The team also argued that because these proteins tend to be much smaller than most other proteins, they are likely to be overlooked in large-scale protein studies.

The researchers extracted spinal fluid from two groups of patients. The first group, comprising 41 patients, was known to have Lou Gehrig's disease, while the second group of 31 patients complained of muscle problems such as weakness and cramps.

Next, the researchers tested the samples from the two groups for the presence or absence of proteins linked to inflammation.

"We found a set of 11 proteins that were significantly higher in the spinal fluid of ALS patients," said Connor, whose findings appear in the January issue of Neurology. "Two proteins were significantly higher in the control group, suggesting that ALS is associated with an increase in some proteins, and a decrease in other proteins."

The researchers report that with the help of these biomarkers, they were able to identify the spinal fluid samples from ALS patients with 92 percent accuracy.

These findings, Connor explains, tell that ALS involves an inflammatory process in the spinal cord and that physicians can detect the extent of the inflammation by sampling the spinal fluid. Therefore, a potential therapy should not be restricted to treating cells throughout the body and hoping the effects trickle back into the brain and spinal cord, he added.

In a second study, researchers found a set of five separate proteins in the blood that are capable of identifying ALS. However, the proteins in the spinal fluid appear to be more accurate indicators of the disease.

"We are not finding that same degree of inflammatory activity in proteins in the blood that we find in the spinal fluid," said Connor, who has filed a provisional patent for the disease biomarkers he found.

The biomarkers could help save time otherwise lost in diagnosing the disease. For instance, a patient complaining of weakness in the legs or reduced grip strength could be checked for the biomarkers. If ALS is suspected, further treatment may begin.

"What we want is to have a diagnostic kit that can be used by any physician, not just a specialist, to provide timely advice to patients and their families," explained Connor. "We are basically trying to find the bad news before its too late."

Penn State

---

---

	The cerebro-spinal fluid; its spontaneous escape from the nose: With observations on its composition and function in the human subject by St. Clair Thomson (Author)
	Urinalysis and Body Fluids by Susan Strasinger (Author), Marjorie Dilorenzo (Author) This thoroughly updated 5th Edition provides you with concise and carefully structured full-color instruction in the handling and analysis of non-blood body fluids. You will learn how to handle and preserve the integrity of body fluid specimens and how to keep yourself and your laboratory safe from infectious agents! Practical, focused, and reader friendly, this popular text teaches the theoretical and practical knowledge every clinical laboratory scientist needs to handle and analyze non-blood body fluids, and to keep you and your laboratory safe from infectious agents. The 5th Edition has been completely updated to include all of the new information and new testing procedures that are important in this rapidly changing field. Case studies and clinical situations show how...
	Resistant Psychosis may be tied to Viral Infection. (CSF Filtration could be Helpful).(cerebral spinal fluid filtration): An article from: Clinical Psychiatry News by Carl Sherman (Author) This digital document is an article from Clinical Psychiatry News, published by International Medical News Group on January 1, 2002. The length of the article is 563 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser. Citation Details Title: Resistant Psychosis may be tied to Viral Infection. (CSF Filtration could be Helpful).(cerebral spinal fluid filtration) Author: Carl Sherman Publication: Clinical Psychiatry News (Magazine/Journal) Date: January 1, 2002 Publisher: International Medical News Group Volume: 30 Issue: 1 Page: 4(1) Distributed by Thomson...
	Spinal fluid test for early Alzheimer's: study finds certain compounds predict risk in some cases.(Body & Braind): An article from: Science News by Nathan Seppa (Author) This digital document is an article from Science News, published by Science Service, Inc. on August 15, 2009. The length of the article is 345 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser. Citation Details Title: Spinal fluid test for early Alzheimer's: study finds certain compounds predict risk in some cases.(Body & Braind) Author: Nathan Seppa Publication: Science News (Magazine/Journal) Date: August 15, 2009 Publisher: Science Service, Inc. Volume: 176 Issue: 4 Page: 10(1) Distributed by Gale, a part of Cengage...
	Test for Lyme vs. chronic fatigue: two conditions show distinct spinal fluid protein signatures.(Body & Brain)(Report): An article from: Science News by Nathan Seppa (Author) This digital document is an article from Science News, published by Science Service, Inc. on March 26, 2011. The length of the article is 381 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser. Citation Details Title: Test for Lyme vs. chronic fatigue: two conditions show distinct spinal fluid protein signatures.(Body & Brain)(Report) Author: Nathan Seppa Publication: Science News (Magazine/Journal) Date: March 26, 2011 Publisher: Science Service, Inc. Volume: 179 Issue: 7 Page: 12(1) Article Type: Report Distributed by Gale, a part of Cengage...
	Graff's Textbook of Urinalysis and Body Fluids by Lillian Mundt (Author), Kristy Shanahan (Author) Newly updated, Graff's Textbook of Urinalysis and Body Fluids is the best urinalysis reference for laboratory students and professionals. In its Second Edition, this practical book retains its full-color images and top-notch coverage of urinalysis principles while significantly updating the content, broadening the scope to include new material on body fluids, providing more information on safety and quality assurance, and adding textbook features such as objectives, case studies, and study questions.
	Blood-Spinal Fluid Permeability to Bromide in Closed Head Injuries by Sten Zetterholm (Author)
	Mayo Clinic Guide to Living with a Spinal Cord Injury: Moving Ahead with Your Life by The Mayo Clinic (Author) Traumatic spinal cord injuries have become increasingly common, with nearly a quarter of a million Americans dealing with the condition and another 10,000 new cases each year. The need for a simple, authoritative guide to this disability has never been greater. The Mayo Clinic Guide to Living with a Spinal Cord Injury addresses that need. With all the information written, vetted, and endorsed by the world’s most prestigious medical clinic, the book enables sufferers to return to an active and productive life within the limits of their disability. Here the Clinic’s leading experts offer advice on everything from emotional adjustments to skin care to modifying homes and cars. This independence-granting book encourages readers to resume their favorite hobbies, participate in athletic...
	Fluids and Electrolytes Demystified (Demystified Nursing) by Joyce Johnson (Author) The balanced way to learn about fluids and electrolytes Need a solid foundation in fluids and electrolytes but finding this complex subject difficult to permeate? Here's the solution! Fluids and Electrolytes Demystified makes everything so easy to understand, you'll feel like you're learning through osmosis.Written by a nursing professor, this accessible guide explains, clearly and concisely, the key elements underlying fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance and imbalances. You will learn about the various health conditions related to imbalances and get details on diagnostic testing, regulators, and treatment options. Useful charts and key terms throughout help you to remember important concepts. Complete with end-of-chapter quizzes to test your knowledge, this book will teach you the...
	Spinal Cord Injury and the Family: A New Guide (Harvard University Press Family Health Guides) by Michelle J. Alpert M.D. (Author), Saul Wisnia (Author), Cindy and Ted Purcell (Foreword) Spinal cord injury, or SCI, is frequently sudden and unexpected—through accident, disease, or violence, patients temporarily lose control of their bodies and, it seems, their lives. With rehabilitation, they can learn to navigate their world once more, retraining muscles and mind to compensate for paralyzed limbs and diminished strength. But as Dr. Michelle Alpert shows here, there is far more to recapturing full, independent lives than regaining movement. Central to long-term success is mending the family unit. Combining Dr. Alpert’s clinical experience with patients’ own stories, Spinal Cord Injury and the Family is for individuals and their families who must climb back from injury: for the young quad couple, both quadriplegic, who wish to conceive and raise a child; for the...