muramidase and Brain-Diseases

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteins with molecular masses of < 150,000 Da were identified by immunoblotting after two kinds of nonreducing sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). With PAGE 1 (17-27% gradient gel), CSF proteins were clearly separated into seven to nine bands with molecular masses of 3000-67,000 Da; seven bands were identified as beta 2-microglobulin, lysozyme, prealbumin, free kappa and lambda chain, apolipoprotein A-I, glycoproteins, and albumin by immunoblotting. With PAGE 2 (10-20% gradient gel), proteins were clearly separated into 11-16 bands with molecular masses of 15,000-150,000 Da; 11 were identified as prealbumin, free kappa and lambda chain, apolipoprotein A-I, glycoproteins, albumin, alpha 1-antitrypsin, transferrin (separated into two bands), immunoglobulin fragments, haptoglobin, and IgG. We analyzed CSF samples collected from 81 patients with cerebrospinal signs by these SDS-PAGE methods and observed prominent bands in some cases.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alzheimer Disease; beta 2-Microglobulin; Brain Diseases; Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins; Child; Child, Preschool; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Female; Hemoglobins; Humans; Immunoblotting; Leukemia; Male; Middle Aged; Molecular Weight; Muramidase; Reference Values

Neurosarcoidosis is a well-recognised complication of systemic sarcoidosis but diagnosis may be difficult if there is no clear evidence of an extracerebral manifestation of the disease. We present the case of a 42-year-old woman with clinical features characteristic of cerebral sarcoidosis including tetraparesis, diabetes insipidus, diencephalic hyperphagia, personality changes, and memory loss. Diagnosis was supported by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): CSF showed mild lymphocytic pleocytosis, intrathecal production of IgG without oligoclonal bands, and a raised level of lysozyme. MRI revealed multiple contrast-enhanced granulomas at the base of the brain with partial involvement of diencephalic and mesencephalic structures and parts of the spinal cord. There was no evidence of systemic manifestation of sarcoidosis. Administration of corticosteroids led to improvement of the symptoms.

Topics: Adult; Brain; Brain Diseases; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Muramidase; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; Sarcoidosis; Spinal Cord; Spinal Cord Diseases

C.S.F. lysozyme concentrations were determined in 24 normal subjects and 14 patients with a variety of neurologic diseases. We found absent or very low activity (below 0-5 mg/ml, in 4 out of 24) in normal individuals. Patients with tumours and other neurological diseases had high lysozyme activity in C.S.F. Our findings suggest that lysozyme is not an accurate indicator of the presence of neoplastic disease as suggested by other investigators.

Topics: Brain Diseases; Brain Neoplasms; Humans; Muramidase

Topics: Amino Acids; Animals; Antibodies; Antigen-Antibody Reactions; Autoanalysis; Brain; Brain Diseases; Cerebral Arteries; Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins; Electrophoresis; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental; Female; Freund's Adjuvant; Guinea Pigs; Humans; Hydrocephalus; Immune Tolerance; Infant; Iodine Isotopes; Leukocytes; Muramidase; Myelin Sheath; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Photomicrography; Radioimmunoassay; Spinal Cord Diseases