A63
Insulin like growth factor-1 level in the cerebrospinal fluid from patients with astrocytomas
Farhad Mashayekhi, Zivar Salehi
Islamic Azad University Tonekabon, Tonekabon, Iran
Background
Cerebrospinal fluid is secreted by the choroids plexuses and has the potential to act as a signaling pathway for physiological control as it has been shown to contain growth factors such as nerve growth factor (NGF), insulin like growth factor (IGF) and other neurotrophic factors. Changes in the concentration of some of these growth factors have been seen in some neurological disorders. IGF is recognized as a potent neurotrophic factor because of its ability to promote the proliferation and differentiation of glial and neuronal cells. Since cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is in contact with the extracellular space of the brain, biochemical brain modifications could be reflected in the CSF.
Method
In this study the expression of IGF-I in the CSF samples from patients with astrocytomas was measured using Western blot and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). CSF samples were obtained by lumbar puncture. The samples were centrifuged at 15000 rpm for 5 minutes, the supernatant frozen immediately and stored at 70oC until used.
Results
A western blot analysis using anti-IGF-I antibody showed the presence of IGF-I in the human CSF. By ELISA, the level of IGF-I in the CSF of patients with brain tumors was higher than in the CSF of normal subjects (24.5±3.2 pg/ml vs. 5.6±1.3 pg/ml, P<0.001).
Conclusion
We suggest that the IGF-I level in the CSF may provide additional information in the differential diagnosis of brain tumors. We also conclude that the IGF-I could be significantly involved in the pathophysiology of brain tumours.
