Yonghua Wu1, Xu Yang1, Xiaogang Li2, Haining Wang3, Tiancheng Wang4. 1. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, No.49, North Garden Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China. 2. Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China. 3. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China. 4. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, No.49, North Garden Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China. tcwang@bjmu.edu.cn.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Homocysteine (Hcy) has been shown to be relevant in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Although the CSF Hcy changes were explored in patients with ALS previously, the outcomes were inconsistent, and the permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) may involve in the process. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between concentration of Hcy and BBB integrity indicated by CSF/serum albumin ratio (Qalb). METHODS: CSF and plasma/serum levels of Hcy, folate, and vitamin B12 and other biochemical biomarkers such as albumin, β2-microglobulin, high sensitive-C reactive protein (hs-CRP), microalbumin, immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgM, IgA, and complement 3 and 4 were analyzed in all 31 ALS patients and 34 controls. Routine CSF analysis including cells/leukocytes count, total protein, glucose, and chlorides were also performed. RESULTS: CSF Hcy levels (0.50 ± 0.46 vs 0.25 ± 0.27 μmol/L) and Qalb (8.09 ± 3.03 vs 6.39 ± 2.21) were significantly higher in the ALS group than that in controls (P < 0.05). The generalized linear mixed model analysis showed that the CSF Hcy was positively correlated with Qalb in ALS patients (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: BBB permeability is increased in ALS patients. CSF Hcy level is associated with BBB integrity. Qalb is a significantly independent predisposing factor for CSF Hcy.
OBJECTIVES:Homocysteine (Hcy) has been shown to be relevant in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Although the CSFHcy changes were explored in patients with ALS previously, the outcomes were inconsistent, and the permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) may involve in the process. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between concentration of Hcy and BBB integrity indicated by CSF/serum albumin ratio (Qalb). METHODS:CSF and plasma/serum levels of Hcy, folate, and vitamin B12 and other biochemical biomarkers such as albumin, β2-microglobulin, high sensitive-C reactive protein (hs-CRP), microalbumin, immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgM, IgA, and complement 3 and 4 were analyzed in all 31 ALSpatients and 34 controls. Routine CSF analysis including cells/leukocytes count, total protein, glucose, and chlorides were also performed. RESULTS:CSFHcy levels (0.50 ± 0.46 vs 0.25 ± 0.27 μmol/L) and Qalb (8.09 ± 3.03 vs 6.39 ± 2.21) were significantly higher in the ALS group than that in controls (P < 0.05). The generalized linear mixed model analysis showed that the CSFHcy was positively correlated with Qalb in ALSpatients (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: BBB permeability is increased in ALSpatients. CSFHcy level is associated with BBB integrity. Qalb is a significantly independent predisposing factor for CSFHcy.